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Published : Feb 19, 2024 13:32 IST , Salem – 2 MINS READ
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Tamil Nadu bowler S. Ajith Ram celebrates after taking six wickets in the first innings against Punjab. | Photo Credit: LAKSHMI NARAYANAN E/The Hindu
Tamil Nadu finally qualified for the quarterfinals of the Ranji Trophy for the first time since the 2016-17 season after beating Punjab by nine wickets in the final league match at the Salem Cricket Foundation Ground on Monday.
The victory meant TN finished on top of the table in the Elite Group C with 28 points, one point ahead of Karnataka – which settled for a draw against Chandigarh. Sai Kishore’s men will now take on Saurashtra at home in Coimbatore in the last-eight encounter starting on Friday.
Punjab resumed the day on 180 for four with a lead of 19 runs and was bundled out for 231 within 90 minutes as TN skipper R. Sai Kishore scalped four wickets.
Overnight centurion Nehal Wadhera was the first to go, trapped leg-before by off-spinner Pradosh Ranjan Paul while attempting a reverse-sweep.
Sai Kishore then removed his opposite number, Mandeep Singh, caught at slip trying a similar shot. Pradosh was used tactically against the left-handers, and the latter delivered again by castling Prerit Dutta to take his third wicket.
FOLLOW LIVE | RANJI TROPHY ROUND 7, DAY 4
From there on, it was just a matter of time, and Sai Kishore quickly wrapped things up, taking the last three wickets to set-up a small target of 71 for his side.
TN opener S. Lokeshwar started by hitting three boundaries against left-arm spinner Dutta before the latter had him trapped in front, thus denying the host a chance to pocket seven points.
N. Jagadeesan and Pradosh then completed the formalities as the home team blasted the paltry target in just seven overs to post its fourth win.
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