Siddharth, Shahrukh help TN take handy lead

Utkarsh and Tiwary come up with half-centuries, but Jharkhand falls short by 59 runs in the first innings

Spinners M. Siddharth (4/37) and M. Shahrukh Khan (3/36) bowled Tamil Nadu into a strong position and helped secure a handy first-innings lead of 59 runs against Jharkhand on day two of the final Ranji Trophy league match here at the Nehru Stadium on Friday. Resuming the day on 256 for seven, TN was bowled out for 285 after Jharkhand left-arm pacer Sushant Mishra quickly took the last three wickets with a fiery and accurate spell.

In reply, Jharkhand started strongly with opener Utkarsh Singh (52) getting his side off to a good start and taking the team to lunch at 80 for two in just 23 overs.

The left-handed batter went after the TN quicks Sandeep Warrier and M. Mohammed, slamming five boundaries against them through the off-side with neatly struck cover-drives.

Utkarsh was supported by skipper Saurabh Tiwary (58), who too was aggressive and started his innings with a six and four against Sai Kishore as they added 73-runs for the third wicket.

Utkarsh was the first to get to his fifty with two boundaries in an over against Aparajith before he was caught behind off Warrier.

With Jharkhand having six left-handed batters in its line-up, off-spinner Kaushik Gandhi was introduced from one end. He, along with Warrier and Mohammed, bowled some tight overs drying up the runs.

Tiwary, who had raced to 45 off 53 balls, was made to wait for his half-century which he got to by stepping down and hitting Mohammed through covers. He was then dismissed by part-time off-spinner Shahrukh, who got one to turn away from the left-hander with Indrajith taking a good catch at slip as Jharkhand went from 133 for two to 179 for five at tea.