Ranji Trophy | Tamil Nadu manages to take a slender first-innings lead against Goa

Tamil Nadu's N. Jagadeesan, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, and Vijay Shankar score half-centuries against Goa in the Ranji Trophy.

Opener N. Jagadeesan (75, 153b, 3x4), Pradosh Ranjan Paul (71, 134b, 10x4), and Vijay Shankar (54, 98b, 5x4, 1x6) struck half-centuries to help Tamil Nadu score 273 against Goa on day two of the elite Group-C match in the fifth round of the Ranji Trophy at the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) Academy ground here on Saturday. The hosts managed to take a small lead of 32 runs.

Off-spinner Mohit Redkar starred with five for 70 for Goa while left-arm spinner Darshan Misal claimed four for 77.

The first session was largely uneventful and was marked by the 98-run second-wicket partnership between Jagadeesan and Pradosh.

Jagadeesan’s innings wasn’t as flamboyant as his last two innings and briefly he seemed uncomfortable facing medium-pacer Deepraj Gaonkar. It seemed the batters didn’t take an easy single off Gaonkar once for Pradosh to remain on strike.

Just like Arjun Tendulkar on Friday, Lakshay Garg too picked up a wicket off a no-ball. That too of the in-form Jagadeesan, who had just brought up his half-century, caught behind down the leg-side just before lunch.

After lunch, the ball seemed to keep low for spinners at times and Jagadeesan missed one such to be bowled off Misal. Later, Redkar bowled Pradosh through the gate.

B. Indrajith was lucky when he was dropped on 10 off Misal by Manthan Khutkar at silly mid-off. After tea, Indrajith was the first wicket to fall, leg- before.