Day 1: Deadly bowling by Kumaran

Tamilnadu scored 96 for 1 at close of play on the first day against Orissa at the MAC stadium The home team think tank prepared two squares, one grassy and other likely to take spin. They have decided to use the former.

Skipper Robin Singh won the toss and put the hosts in. The home team immediately tasted success with Kumaran removing SS Das for 1, a prolific run getter this season, followed by Mullick who was foxed by a late outswinger from Kumaran, which he nicked to Reuben Paul. Mullick did not trouble the scorer.

The twelfth over of the match was an eventful one. Kumaran struck SS Raul, the rival skipper on the 'box' in the 1st, 3rd and 4th ball forcing him to lay flat on the ground, and with the 6th ball had his off stump cart-wheeling with a beauty that came back. His first spell read 8-4-17-3. Jayachandra was the only top order bat who played with purpose. He sensibly rotated the strike before getting out in the final over before lunch. He made 58 with 8 fours. Orissa were at 98/5 at lunch.

After lunch the procession continued. The only exception was Gautham Gopal who played a innings of 71 runs with 11 fours and 2 sixes. He reached his 50 with a pulled six off Devanand. The late-order batsmen had no clue against the guile of Kumaran who returned his best figures 6/56 in the Ranji Trophy surpassing his previous best of 5/61 against Goa 1997-98 season.

This is his third five-fer in the Ranji Trophy and he has taken 33 wickets this season. He was well supported by Robin Singh (2/37) and Mahesh (2/45), who should have had better figures having beaten the bat on numerous occasions. The Orissa innings folded at 194 (275 minutes, 57.1 overs).

In the remaining 33 overs Tamil Nadu made 96/1, losing veteran WV Raman for 0. A George, lucky to be dropped by Mullick at slip off S Raul, is 49 not out. H Badani is unbeaten on 33.

Day 2: Tamil Nadu grind Orissa attack

Tamil Nadu were 422/7 at close of play on the second day.

Resuming at the overnight score of 96/1 (33 overs), the two overnight batsmen Anand George and Hemang Badani were circumspect and hesistant to play shots.

George duly got to this third fifty in the Ranji Trophy in as many matches and withstood the onslaught of Mohanty and company. He scored 62 (178 mins, 115 balls, 8x4).

After Anand's departure, Vasu joined Badani. He was foxed by a rising ball from Mohanty which clipped his outer edge and was smartly held by Satpathy at second slip. Vasu made 20 (106 mins, 67 balls). Meanwhile Badani completed his tenth Ranji fifty, his fourth this season. Before the commencement of play he told this reporter that he felt he would get a 100 in this innings.

Sharath was totally unconvincing and was trapped lbw by Barick when he missed an attempted pull shot. Apart from the offie Satpathy, the other Orissa spinner on display, leggie Khan, has the action of Abdul Qadir and the pace of Afridi.

Watchful century by Badani

Badani finally reached his second 100 in Ranjis when he swept S Khan to the fine-leg boundary. He faced 270 balls with 13 fours. An extra-cover drive off Barick and flick to midwicket off Mohanty stand out. When on 18 he reached 1000 runs in the Ranji Trophy, this being his 21st outing. At tea Tamil Nadu were 257 for 4 off 92 overs. Madanagopal played crisp shots on either side of the wicket and raced to his first 50 in this tournament in just his fifth match (79 balls, 6x4).

The new ball was taken after 100 overs, which is mandatory as per the rules. Tamil Nadu were at 291/5 at this point. R Paul made his intentions very clear by hooking Barick and Mullick for six. He slashed, pulled, and played at will to reach his fifty (59 balls, 8x4, 2x6), his second in the Ranjis. He has two centuries to his name as well.

The eight-wicket pair of R Paul 74* and S Mahesh 39* have so far put on 81 runs. More fireworks are expected tomorrow.

Day 3: Uphill Task for Orissa

Orissa were 186/4 at close of play at the MAC Stadium Chennai today.

In the first session of play, the two Tamil Nadu overnight batsmen R Paul and S Mahesh blasted the rival attack to pieces with a flurry of fours and sixes. A ``leather-hunt'' does not amply describe the onslaught, as the Orissa bowlers suffered in silence. R Paul raced to his 100, his third in the Ranjis and his first this season in 105 balls (11x4, 3x6). S Mahesh gave able support with an unbeaten 70 (79 mins, 53 balls, 7x4, 4x6)

Orissa agony ended when Tamil Nadu declared at 483/7. The eight wicket pair put on 142 which is a record for Tamil Nadu in the Ranji trophy surpassing the previous record of 127 held by MK Dalvi and Sushil Haridoss against Kerala way back in 1973-74. The 142 runs came in just 101 balls, clearly showed the dominance of bat over ball

In their second essay Orissa did not start well, losing Jaichandra early for zero. At lunch Orissa was 49/1. Immediately after lunch SS Das was consumed by R Paul off the ever-dependent Kumaran. Parida was out to a reflex catch by A George at first slip just before tea. Orissa's score at tea was 132/3.

Mullick was the lone batsman to show any resistance. He lofted Vasu over extra cover for a six, apart from hitting 15 fours. When on 83 he drove Kumaran's out swinger without getting to the pitch of the ball and the resultant snick was smartly taken by Madanagopal at second slip.

S Raul joined P Das and the pair took the score to 186/4 at close of play. During the Tamil Nadu innings on the second day, Orissa bowled 20 overs short were fined 15% on their match fees by the Match referee.

Day 4: Hat-trick by Devanand

Resuming at the overnight score of 187/4 Orissa was bundled out for 248, seventeen minutes before lunch on the final day here at the MAC stadium.

First to go this morning was P Das, caught by A George at slip off D Vasu for 35. The fifth wicket pair put on 76 runs in 35.2 overs. Then came the dream spell from Devanand. He first had wicket keeper batsmen Gautham Gopal neatly taken by H Badani at second slip for 11 with the score board reading 238/6. Next ball he removed Satpathy in an identical fashion. When S Khan came in all the fielders converged on him and a beautiful inswinger clipped the tentative bat of poor Khan and was taken by Vasu.

Devanand, who was overshadowed by the exploits of Kumaran on the first three days, moved centrestage on the last day. He was not finished yet. He had Mohanty bowled with a beauty, the ball just removing the off bail. Orissa innings was laid to rest when A George took a tumbling catch at slip to dismiss stubborn S Raul for a well made 62 (282 mins, 146 bals, 10x4).

Devanand's spell this morning read 9-2-12-4 with this match Tamil Nadu has 16 points, with a match to go against Maharashtra.

Result: Tamil Nadu won by an innings and 41 runs.

Points: Tamil Nadu 8, Orissa 0.