CHENNAI: A 120-run sixth-wicket stand between
Ankit Dane (63, 8x4, 1x6) and
Ankit Sharma (75 not out, 12x4) helped
Madhya Pradesh
stay afloat on Day 1 of their
Ranji Trophy clash against
Tamil Nadu at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Friday.
The duo got together with their side struggling at 67 for 5 in the 27th over and changed the complexion of the contest with their purposeful batting. At close, the hosts were placed at 224 for 7 in 80 overs. Ankit was given company by Mihir Hirwani who was unbeaten on 16.
The Ankits mixed caution with aggression in their 217-ball stay at the crease, and took the game away after Tamil Nadu seamers - M Mohammed (2-46) and K Vignesh (3-27) - left them reeling in the first session of play.
Tamil Nadu skipper Abhinav Mukund called it correctly and chose to make first use of the wicket. It was a move that paid rich dividends. Medium-pacer M Mohammed got the first breakthrough when he had opener Rajat Patidar - caught by skipper Abhinav Mukund - with the score reading 25 in the 6th over.
Madhya Pradesh skipper Devendra Bundela (20, 4x4) did try to stitch a stand, but was caught by Aparajith of Vignesh. Mohammed, in the company of Vignesh - accounted for half of the home side's batsmen - before the first sign of fightback commenced.
It was admirable to see the application shown by the two Ankits on a wicket that had something in it for the fast bowlers, and their partnership kept the visitors at bay.
Scoreboard:Madhya Pradesh 1st innings: A Shrivastava c Jagadeesan b Mohammed 13, Rajat Patidar c Abhinav b Mohammed 11, S Sharma c Jagadeesan b Vignesh 8, D Bundela c Aparajith b Vignesh 20, Harpreet Singh Bhatia c Sai Kishore b Vignesh 4, Ankit Dane c Indrajith b Washington 63, Ankit Sharma batting 75, P Datey c Indrajith b Washington 0, M Hirwani batting 16; Extras (nb3, w2, b4, lb5) 14; Total (For 7 wickets in 80 overs) 224; FoW: 1-25, 2-40, 3-52, 4-64, 5-67, 6-187, 7-187; Bowling: Yomahesh 10-3-48-0, Mohammed 16-2-46-2, K Vignesh 19-7-27-3, Vijay Shankar 6-1-31-0, Malolan 8-0-20-0, Sai Kishore 10-2-27-0, Washington 11-4-16-2
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