By Admin 
Tamil Nadu failed to show progress in what has been an underwhelming campaign so far, as it folded like paper for 182 versus Andhra on a first-day pitch that offered bounce in their Elite Group-A clash in the fourth round of the Ranji Trophy at the ACA-VDCA cricket stadium here on Saturday.
Reduced to 103 for nine, P. Vidyuth and Sandeep Warrier added 79 invaluable runs for the last wicket – a partnership laced with streaky boundaries. Remarkably, Warrier played an off-drive for a four off Tripurana Vijay’s off-break.
Left-arm pacer Prithviraj Yarra, with four for 46, was the pick of the Andhra bowlers.
Electing to bat, Tamil Nadu’s untameable implosion consumed the first session. Opener R. Vimal Khumar edged one in the corridor of uncertainty to be caught by Shaik Rasheed at first slip off pacer K.S. Raju. Fellow opener N. Jagadeesan was unfortunately run out, as he slipped a bit while attempting the second run for a glance to fine leg.
The in-form Pradosh Ranjan Paul edged a ball slightly away from his body to be caught by Andhra captain Ricky Bhui at second slip off Prithviraj. B. Sachin was trapped leg before by medium-pacer Ashwin Hebbar, while Andre Siddarth edged off Yarra to Rasheed at first slip. B. Indrajith flicked straight to Saurabh Kumar at square leg off pacer Saiteja, leaving Tamil Nadu 82 for six after 31 overs at lunch.
Upon resumption, Sai Kishore went for a slog sweep and holed out to Vijay at deep square leg off left-arm spinner Saurabh. Sonu Yadav was caught behind, and Trilok Nag fended a short ball to Karan Shinde at short leg – both off Prithviraj.
It would have been a consolation and encouragement for Tamil Nadu when Trilok had the in-form and attacking Srikar Bharat inside-edge onto his stumps at the end of the day.
The scores: Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: R. Vimal Khumar c Rasheed b K.S. Raju 10, N. Jagadeesan run out 19, B. Sachin lbw b Hebbar 4, Pradosh Ranjan Paul c Bhui b Prithviraj 8, B. Indrajith c Saurabh b K. Saiteja 19, Andre Siddarth c Rasheed b Prithviraj 0, R. Sonu Yadav c K.S. Bharat b Prithviraj 26, R. Sai Kishore c Vijay b Saurabh 8, P. Vidyuth b Saurabh 40, H. Trilok Nag c Shinde b Prithviraj 4, Sandeep Warrier (not out) 29; Extras (nb-2, w-4, b-4, lb-5): 15; Total (in 74.3 overs): 182.
Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-29, 3-41, 4-45, 5-46, 6-81, 7-99, 8-99, 9-103.
Andhra bowling: K. Saiteja 17-3-50-1, K.S. Raju 15-5-39-1, Vijay 9.4-1-25-0, Yarra 17-4-46-4, Hebbar 4-2-7-1, Saurabh 8.5-4-4-2, Rasheed 3-1-2-0.
Andhra — 1st innings: Abhishek Reddy (not out) 3, K.S. Bharat b Trilok 12, Tripurana Vijay (not out) 1; Extras (b-4): 4; Total (for one wkt. in six overs): 20.
Fall of wicket: 1-18.
Tamil Nadu bowling: Warrier 3-1-3-0, Trilok 3-0-13-1.