Yo Mahesh prayed and Pradosh Ranjan Paul answered.

Some 30 minutes into the second session of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group D contest between Chandigarh and Tamil Nadu, the visiting team’s head coach pleaded to Pradosh and B. Indrajith: “Neenga kadasi varikum aadanum (you must stay there till the end of the day’s play).”

While the right-hander could not fulfil Yo Mahesh’s wish, the southpaw did not disappoint his boss at the Sector-16 Stadium here on Monday. His well-constructed unbeaten century (138 batting, 215b, 12×4) on a greenish surface was the headline act as Tamil Nadu, having opted to bat, stood at 320 for four at the end of a day it dominated. Pradosh, walking out at No. 3 after the fall of Vimal Khumar, was solid in defence, played the ball close to his body and employed the sweep repeatedly against the left-arm spinners. The 10th First Class ton, which he completed with a crunching cover-drive for four off Rohit Dhanda, was a tangible reward for his grind.

Another feature of his knock was the excellent running between the wickets. After keeping the fielders on their toes during the 139-run third-wicket stand with B. Indrajith (51, 112b, 3×4), the 25-year-old did not pass up any opportunity in his unbroken 66-run fifth-wicket association with G. Ajitesh (34 batting).

Indrajith, the topper

Unlike Pradosh, senior pros Indrajith and N. Jagadeesan (52, 88b, 8×4) could not carry on after crossing the first milestone.

Jagadeesan saw his stumps rearranged in left-arm tweaker Bhagmender Lather’s first over, with Indrajith walking back to the hut following a sharp return catch from Nishunk Birla. Indrajith, however, achieved a feat before being dismissed: he became the Tamil Nadu batter with most half-centuries (30) in the Ranji Trophy, surpassing S. Sharath and Hemang Badani (29). Pradosh, though, has his feet on the ground determined for more.

The scores: Tamil Nadu – 1st innings: Vimal Khumar c Arjit b Nikhil 11, N. Jagadeesan b Bhagmender 52, Pradosh Ranjan Paul (batting) 138, B. Indrajith c & b Nishunk 51, Andre Siddarth c & b Bhagmender 13, G. Ajitesh (batting) 34; Extras (b-8, lb-7, nb-3, w-3): 21; Total (for four wkts. in 86 overs): 320.

Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-92, 3-231, 4-254.

Chandigarh bowling: Jagjit 12-3-38-0, Nikhil 10-0-34-1, Rohit 19-2-81-0, Nishunk 18-0-63-1, Bhagmender 16-2-47-2, Chiragvir 10-0-41-0, Arjun 1-0-1-0.