On a deceptive green top that had little in it for the bowlers, Karthik made hay with 113, while half-centuries from Vijay Shankar (91), Ramaswamy Prasanna (64 not out) and Baba Indrajith (68 not out) down the order ensured that Tamil Nadu piled up 426/5 in 177 overs at close of play.
Dinesh Karthik struck a solid 113 as Tamil Nadu put themselves in command against Maharashtra, on day two of their Ranji Trophy semifinal against Maharashtra on Thursday.
On a deceptive green top that had little in it for the bowlers, Karthik made hay with 113, while half-centuries from Vijay Shankar (91), Ramaswamy Prasanna (64 not out) and Baba Indrajith (68 not out), ensured that Tamil Nadu piled up 426/5 in 177 overs at close of play.
It was a frustrating day for Maharashtra as captain Rohit Motwani used eight bowlers, as they toiled hard to take two wickets. Tamil Nadu opted to play it safe scoring at a run-rate of 2.6 an over. Continuing with his fine form, Indrajith, who scored 111 and 49 against Vidarbha, slammed his second successive half-century and put 107 runs with Prasanna for the sixth wicket.
Ranji Trophy: Mumbai face daunting 445-run target against Karnataka
Karthik's innings spanned seven hours and 35 minutes as he took 304 balls for his 22nd first class century, before edging one to wicketkeeper Motwani off Shrikanth Mundhe. The wicketkeeper-batsman later said that his team had 'no qualms' about the slow approach.
"There is no compulsion to have a result on a five-day game. We are looking to play maximum overs and not thinking about declaration," the Tamil Nadu senior batsman said, making it clear that they do not have any intention of a declaration. "There are a few odd balls keeping low. Maharashtra bowled wide and played negative cricket and we opted to leave them out," he added.
Karthik also hinted that he's eyeing the wicketkeeper's berth in the Test squad which is up for grabs after the retirement of Mahendra Singh Dhoni from the longer version of the game.
"I am happy with my form. I just want to keep scoring runs and let my bat do the talking," he signed off.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Dinesh-Karthik")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}