Buchi Babu tournament: Host TNCA XI scores 294/5 against fan-favourite visitor Mumbai on day one

While Pradosh Ranjan Paul and B. Indrajith engaged in a 74-run stand for the third wicket, No. 5 batter Boopathi Vaishna Kumar played till stumps as the host reached 294 for five.

Pradosh Ranjan Paul played late and ran hard for his runs as his first boundary came off the 66th ball he faced.  | Photo Credit: Periasamy M/ The Hindu

TNCA XI had three half-centurions on day one of the Buchi Babu tournament fixture against Mumbai here at the Sri Ramakrishna College Cricket Ground on Tuesday.

While Pradosh Ranjan Paul (65, 87b, 4x4) and B. Indrajith (61, 115b, 7x4) engaged in a 74-run stand for the third wicket, No. 5 batter Boopathi Vaishna Kumar (63 batting, 121b, 6x4) played till stumps as the host reached 294 for five.

Pradosh played late and ran hard for his runs (seven twos and four threes) as his first boundary came off the 66th ball he faced. Just as he started to get expansive, Tanush Kotian trapped him in front of the wicket. Indrajith — who was in the middle of a chanceless knock and after notching up his third consecutive fifty-plus score — lost his stumps to off-spinner Himanshu Singh.

On a day that also saw a drizzle interrupting the proceedings in the afternoon, a compelling sequence of events happened at the boundary line as the players were about to call it a day.

Suryakumar Yadav had fielding duty in the deep-midwicket boundary and had a fair few young enthusiasts asking for his autographs and pictures.  | Photo Credit: Periasamy M/ The Hindu

Shreyas Iyer was bowling the 90th over in an action quite similar to Sunil Narine’s. Suryakumar Yadav had fielding duty in the deep-midwicket boundary and had a fair few young enthusiasts asking for his autographs and pictures. The India T20I captain obliged to as many requests as possible in between Shreyas’ darting off-spinners. As if this was not enough, R. Sonu Yadav deposited the final ball of the day well over Suryakumar’s head before the fans rushed inside the ground to continue showering their love.

The scores:

TNCA XI 294/5 in 90 overs (Pradosh 65, Indrajith 61, Boopathi 63 batting) vs. Mumbai; Toss: TNCA XI.