Ranji Trophy: Draw leaves TN on the brink

The draw against Madhya Pradesh means TN will require a big win and other results to be favourable to its cause.

MP's Harpreet Singh Bhatia (100*) was involved in a 143-run fifth wicket stand with Ankit Dane (65*).

The sixth round match between Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu ended in a draw as the visiting TN side endedthe final day at 79 for 1, unable to overhaul the target of 290. Earlier in the day, Harpreet Singh Bhatia (100 n.o., 139b, 12x4, 6x2) and Ankit Dane (65 n.o., 115b, 8x4) were involved in an unbroken 143-run fifth wicket stand as MP declared its second innings on 351 for four. This result leaves TN on the brink of elimination as it will require a big win and other results to be favourable to its cause. 

Full Scorecard The first session of the day was the most eventful - with three wickets falling in the space of 26 overs. Then it appeared that Madhya Pradesh will bat the day out, with Harpreet and Dane looking solid in the middle. Tamil Nadu appeared to be trying. Off-spinners Malolan Rangarajan and Washington Sundar bowled from around the wicket with two slips and a silly point to left-hander Harpreet. Then, Malolan switched to bowl from over the wicket with a slip, a short leg, and a short fine leg.

Harpreet, who had dared to risk by then, repeatedly swept the ball to short fine leg. He had earlier hit Malolan for two fours in one over - a loft that just went above extra cover, a whip to deep midwicket. This was after he had placed a square cut between the point and the backward point for four off the same bowler. Dane remarkably played an inside-out for four to deep extra cover off left-arm spinner Sai Kishore. But just after Harpreet got to his ton, Bundela declared.        N. Jagadeesan got lucky as the cut shot he played for four off Ishwar Pandey went through the hands of the fielder at point. Yet, Pandey bowled him soon after - the ball hit the middle stump after Jagadeesan missed it trying to hit on the leg side.