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Jaipur: Rajasthan batsmen employed cautious approach as the hosts reached 483 for five at stumps on second day of their Ranji Trophy semi-final match against Tamil Nadu being played at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium.
At stumps, former India U-19 captain Ashok Menaria (88 batting, 159 balls, 9x4, 2x6) and skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar (65 batting, 174 balls, 6x4) added 95 runs for the undefeated sixth wicket stand. Kanitkar who retired hurt on 28 on Monday came in to bat at the fall of the fifth wicket at 388.
Earlier, Rajasthan started the day at 236 for one with centurion Aakash Chopra and nightwatchman Vivek Yadav (5) at the crease. Yadav didn't last long as he gloved a short delivery from L Balaji to Dinesh Karthik behind stumps.
Chopra (139, 329 balls, 15x4) and Robin Bisht (64, 144 balls, 8x4) added 49 runs to take the score to 294 before the former India opener closed the face of his bat to an outgoing delivery from Sunil Sam (two for 80) and was caught by K Vasudevdas at gully.
Bisht however punished the loose balls in company of Rashmi Ranjan Parida (19) but the latter was adjudged leg before of part-time seamer Rajgopal Sathish.
Menaria showed a lot of positive intent from the start as he wasn't afraid of playing the lofted shot off the spinners.
He infact lofted off-spinner Suresh over long for a huge six. The former India colts player who got his maiden first class ton against Mumbai in the quarterfinals showed a lot of composure as the southpaw was hardly troubled by the Tamil Nadu bowlers. The pitch had eased out which was also a factor that bowlers were rendered ineffective.
The only thing is that Rajasthan didn't get the required acceleration on the second despite having lost only one wicket yesterday. After scoring 236 on Day I, they have managed only 247 on Day II.
They would certainly bat for an hour tomorrow as they would like Menaria to score his second first-class century in as many matches.
Brief scores
Rajasthan 483 for 5 (Chopra139, Menaria 88*, Kanitkar 64*)
