Ranji Trophy 2023-24: Sai Kishore’s fifer retains Tamil Nadu in command towards Saurashtra on Day 1

Skipper R. Sai Kishore (5 for 66) led from the entrance for Tamil Nadu as he scalped his ninth five-wicket haul in First Class cricket to bowl out Saurashtra for 183 on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals on the Sri Ramakrishna College of Arts and Science floor right here on Friday.

Sai, alongside fellow left-arm spinner Ajith Ram (three for 56), continued their twin act as they shared eight wickets between them and displayed good management over line and size on a pitch that’s serving to the slower bowlers.

“I will take 183 on any day. Honestly, we did not turn up like usual in the first hour,” Sai Kishore mentioned, after the day’s play. “We pulled it back after that, and overall, the effort on the field was fantastic.”

“With the pressure that he (Ajith) puts at one end, either he will take wickets, or I will. Even when he is bowling long spells, his lengths are not going here and there. It gives a lot of control to the team. Only because of his bowling were we able to take wickets at the other end.”

RELATED: Andhra’s Sasikanth mentions ‘little things’ which helped him take four-for towards MP in Ranji Trophy quarterfinal

In reply, TN completed the day on 23 for one, shedding opener Vimal Khumar, bowled by Chirag Jani.

Electing to bat, Harvik Desai (84) and Sheldon Jackson received the guests off to a powerful begin, hitting a flurry of boundaries regardless of shedding opener Kevin Jivrajani within the third over of the day. Harvik was flamboyant taking part in cuts, flicks and a few crisply-timed on-drives. He additionally used the sweep pictures towards the spinners successfully.

Sai Kishore then took cost when he bowled Jackson earlier than Ajith Ram made his presence felt by accounting for the in-form Cheteshwar Pujara.

The two left-arm spinners tied down the skilled Indian batter, bowling a probing spell from both finish, giving simply two runs in 22 balls. It pressured Pujara to cost right down to Ajith to work one by the on-side however ended up giving a easy return catch.

Harvik and Arpit Vasavada received the defending champion’s innings again on observe by stitching a 54-run stand for the fourth wicket to maintain TN at bay till one hour after lunch.

ALSO READ: Ranji Trophy 2023-24 Quarterfinals: Musheer’s ton bails Mumbai out of bother towards Baroda on Day 1

However, Ajith Ram as soon as once more gave the breakthrough for the hosts when he had Arpit trapped in entrance after which bowled the well-set Harvik with a faster supply that appeared to maintain low to blow the sport open.

Sai Kishore then rapidly ran by the decrease order, taking 4 of the final 5 wickets to get his second five-for this season.

“I wanted to bowl only three overs with Sandy (Sandeep Warrier), but as I saw the batters struggling, it kept extending, and then I got a few wickets as well,” he added.