TN fighting to avoid relegation, Baroda better placed

Chennai, Jan 9 (UNI) Facing the ignominy of relegation to Plate Group from the Elite Group A Tamil Nadu will be under immense pressure when they take on Baroda in the Ranji Trophy league match here from tomorrow to 13.

Having put up a poor show, the hosts have just four points after the end of the first six matches. They are at the bottom of the table along with defending champions Uttar Pradesh.

However, the fortune of Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh is inter linked. For if both happen to gain two points from their respective matches, then the run quotient in the match between UP and TN would be taken into consideration to decide who retains the place in the Elite Group.

A worrying factor for Tamil Nadu's new coach this season W V Raman has been the team's failure to earn points even in some of the home matches against weaker teams like Andhra and Haryana. Tamil Nadu would have to score an outright win to retain their stay in the Elite Group for another season.

However, Tamil Nadu's batting will be bolstered by the return of Dinesh Karthick, who performed well in the last Test against South Africa. The hosts fortunes may depend on his and captain S Badrianth's form. The match assumes importance for Karthick, who should continue with his form to find a place in the ODI squad for the four match home series against West Indies later this month.

Tamil Nadu has omitted young Yo Mahesh from the team and recalled veteran off spinner Aashish Kapoor.

For Baroda, Irfan Pathan, if he finds his rhythm, could spell danger for the host. Pathan, who joined the Baroda squad in the last match against defending champions Uttar Pradesh after returning from South Africa, performed well with the bat but he is yet to strike as the new ball bowler.

Baroda coach Ashok Mankad said his team will go all-out for an victory. ''Our boys are in form. Like in the earlier matches, we will go for an outright win here also,'' he said.

Teams: Tamil Nadu (from): S Badrinath (Capt), M. Vijay, Dinesh Kaarthick, R Prasanna, Hemang K Badani, R. Satish, S Sharath, R.

Ashwin, Aashish Kapoor, R Naresh, S Vidyuth, C Ganapathy, K. Shri Vasudevadas, R Jesuraj, R Raghuram.

Baroda (from): Jacob J Martin (capt), Ajith P Bhoite, S A Gaekwad, Himanshu R Jadhav, K Panchal, R A Parab, S S Parab, Rakesh B Patel, Irfan K Pathan, Irfan S Pathan (jr), Y K Pathan, Rajesh V Pawar, Pinal Shah,R K Solanki, C C Williams.

UNI