VIJAYAWADA, INDIA: Hyderabad tasted victory for the second time in a row in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season when they beat neighbours Andhra by 267 runs at the DVRP Ground in Mulapadu, Vijayawada, on Wednesday, October 21. Last week, Hyderabad had beaten Tripura by an innings and 40 runs to get their campaign underway.
Opting to bat on a surface that appeared to provide assistance to spinners, Hyderabad could only muster up 275 in 85 overs in their first innings. Opener Abhirath Reddy top-scored for the visitors with 62 while lower middle-order batter Rahul Radhesh remained unbeaten on 58. Tanmay Agarwal contributed 41.
Spinners Saurabh Kumar (3), Tripurana Vijay (4) and Lalith Mohan (3) shared all ten Hyderabad wickets amongst themselves. However, the home team fared poorly when they walked out to bat, getting all out for 184, giving their visitors a handy 91-run lead on a surface that was deteriorating by the hour.
Hyderabad, however, applied themselves well in their second innings, and batted Andhra out of this Ranji Trophy game. Led by Himateja Kodimela’s unbeaten 123, the visitors were able to declare their score at 306-7 after playing 95.3 overs. Tanay Thyagarajan, who had picked up a five-wicket haul, remained unbeaten on 53.
Andhra were bowled out for just 130 in their second innings in this Ranji Trophy match
Set a massive target of 398 to chase in just over a day, Andhra ended Day 3 at 7-2 after losing opener Abhishek Reddy (1) and number three Shaik Rasheed (1), both to left-arm spinner Aniketh Reddy in the second over. Needing 391 runs on the final day of play, the home team imploded, losing eight wickets in 27 overs.
Thyagarajan was again the hero for Hyderabad, returning with 6-35, while Aniketh added a wicket to his tally. Andhra batted rather poorly in their second innings, and were bowled out for a mere 130 just before lunch on Day 4. With this, Thyagarajan has now picked up three five-wicket hauls this season, and is currently the leading wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group with 20 scalps in two games.
This victory takes Hyderabad to the top of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group B, as they have now garnered 13 points in two games. They will, however, be aware of the relatively low status of the opponents they have faced so far compared to the fare that now awaits them. Hyderabad will next host Punjab at the Gymkhana Ground on October 26, followed by trips to Chhattisgarh and Assam.
- YOU MAY ALSO LIKE – Spin twins Tanay Thyagarajan and Aniketh Reddy help Hyderabad rout Tripura in Ranji Trophy
Cover image courtesy: X/VijayCricketFan
If you liked this article, consider subscribing to our website to stay in touch with the latest updates in sports. You can also follow the India Sports Tribune on X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook. We would love to talk to you!
Leave a Reply