Sridharan Sriram rescued former champions Tamil Nadu with a masterly unbeaten 81 as the hosts managed to score 244 for six at close on the first day of their five-day Ranji Trophy semifinal against Indian Railways at Chennai on Sunday.
Tamil Nadu openers -- captain S Suresh and Sadagopan Ramesh -- gave a good start putting on 54 runs for the first wicket before the latter was out to a catch at silly point off Siddarth Varma's bowling.
Ramesh made 23 hitting four boundaries. With Suresh also making his exit snicking to wicketkeeper S Wankhade off J P Yadav for 44 (7x4 and 1x6), the hosts lost two quick wickets.
While Sriram managed to keep the Railway bowlers at bay on a docile pitch, Badrinath was out cheaply offering an easy catch to Yere Goud at second slip off J P Yadav. Sharath, who was shaping up well to resurrect the hosts innings went for a wild shot and paid the penalty.
Sharath, who made 26 and added 50 runs for the fourth wicket, was caught at fine leg by Madan Yadav off medium pacer Harvinder Singh.
Yet another good stand between Sriram and K Vasudeva Das yielded 56 runs for the fifth wicket in 23 overs before the latter went for a big heave off spinner Parida but only managed to top edge and the resultant skier was held brilliantly by T P Singh, who covered about 15 yards to take it.
After the hosts lost the wicket of Vidyuth Sivaramakrishnan for 22, who was run out by Parida from point area, Sriram (not out on 81 with eight fours) and Dinesh Karthik (not out on 13) came together and were still at the crease when the stumps were drawn.
Score board:
Tamil Nadu first Innings:
S Suresh c Sushil Wankhade b J P Yadav 44
S Ramesh c Siddarth Varma b S N Kaivolkar 23
S Sriram not out 81
S Badrinath c Yere Goud b J P Yadav 1
S Sharath c Madan Yadav b Harvinder Singh 26
K Srivasudeva Das c T P Singh b K Parida 25
Vidyuth Sivaramakrishnan run out 22
Dinesh Karthik not out 13
Extras: (lb-5, nb-4) 9
Total: (for 6 wkts in 90 overs) 244
Fall of wickets: 1/54, 2/95, 3/99, 4/149, 5/205, 6/229.
Bowling: Harvinder Singh 13-0-49-1; J P Yadav 25-8-47-2, Sanjay Bangar 14-3-38-0; S N Kaivolkar 10-2-25-1; K Parida 26-7-72-1; Madan Yadav 2-0-8-0.
