Opener R. Vimal Khumar struck 112 (215b, 12×4, 1×6) and added 189 runs for the second wicket with skipper Pradosh Ranjan Paul (91, 182b, 10×4) as TNCA President’s XI reached 265 for three against Jammu & Kashmir on day one of the All India Buchi Babu invitational cricket tournament semifinal at the CSK High Performance Centre on Sunday.

It was Vimal’s second century and Pradosh’s fourth half-century of the tournament. Their batting prowess versus spin was on display on a day when four tweakers bowled.

The striking aspect of Vimal’s batting was his use of feet to the spinners. He charged at off-spinner Kawalpreet Singh to loft a full toss for four to deep midwicket, at left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq to loft a four straight down the ground and a six to cow corner, and at left-arm spinner Vanshaj Sharma for an inside-out four.

When pacer Sunil Kumar bowled short, he pulled it behind square for a four, and later delightfully drove him straight for a four again.

The highlight of Pradosh’s innings was his spectacular backfoot drive off Kawalpreet and Mushtaq for a four each to the extra cover boundary. He also swept to the square leg boundary for back-to-back fours off Vanshaj.

Published on Aug 31, 2025