Ranji Trophy | Spinners Sai Kishore, Ajith put TN in control

Tamil Nadu captain inspires with a stellar performance as Chandigarh struggles in the Ranji Trophy match.

When a team is in a desperate situation and needs inspiration, there’s nothing bigger than a skipper providing it.

Tamil Nadu captain and left-arm spinner, R. Sai Kishore (3/48), did just that on day two of the Ranji Trophy encounter against Chandigarh here on Friday.

Chandigarh, replying to the host’s 301, had a poor start. Pacer M. Mohammed struck early, trapping debutant Tushar Joshi in front off the 11th ball of the innings.

Skipper Manan Vohra, however, displayed positive intent, stroking three elegant boundaries. Opener Shivam Bhambri (108, 139b, 11x4, 3x6), taking a cue from his leader, started middling the ball as the pair built a solid partnership.

With the sun beating down and the pitch not offering much, Shivam scored at a brisk rate. He was at ease both against pace and spin, and was not averse to taking the aerial route as the three big sixes over long-off showed. Against the run of play, Mohammed broke the 97-run second-wicket association when he gobbled up a return catch off Vohra’s mistimed flick.

Shivam and new-man Kunal Mahajan sustained the momentum with a 71-run alliance for the third wicket, a phase that saw the former reach his second century of the season.

Just when it looked like the visitor was cruising along, the drinks break did the trick for Tamil Nadu. Sai Kishore’s delivery outside leg lured Shivam down the track and N. Jagadeesan completed a superb stumping.