Tanmay continued his fine run with an unbeaten fifty.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO
A concerted bowling effort and a half-century at the top of the order from Tanmay Agarwal put Hyderabad on the front foot against Vidarbha in a Ranji Trophy Group-B match at the VCA Stadium here on Thursday.
Tanmay, the leading run-scorer in the competition this season, remained unbeaten on 53, taking Hyderabad to 90 for two at the end of the day’s play, 100 shy of Vidarbha’s total.
After a brisk start, including three boundaries in the first over against Harsh Dubey, opener Abhirath Reddy nicked one to Atharva Taide in the cordon to depart for 20. Wicketkeeper-batter Rahul Radesh was bowled looking to cut a full ball after a 39-run partnership with Tanmay. The southpaw completed his fifty off 78 balls, seeing off the day’s final phase with K. Himateja for company.
Earlier, the visitor got the perfect start after opting to field on a pitch with an overlay of grass in the good-length area. The Hyderabad pacers struck early, cleaning up the Vidarbha top order before the 18-over mark. But, India speedster Mohammed Siraj cut a frustrated figure after forcing umpteen play-and-misses and enduring a dropped catch off his bowling.
All-rounder Parth Rekhade managed a 48-ball resistance before chipping an easy catch to short midwicket off G. Anikethreddy. With wickets falling around him, Dubey went for his shots, bringing up his fifty off just 41 balls. His lofted shot down the ground and a pull shot for six off Siraj received great applause from the few hundred fans present in the stadium.
Siraj had the last laugh though, forcing Dubey to top-edge one to deep fine leg where Himateja produced a stunning diving catch. Vice-captain Tanay Thyagarajan then sent back Yash Thakur to bundle the home team out for 190 in 55.5 overs.
The scores: Vidarbha — 1st innings: Atharva Taide c Himateja b Milind 7, Dhruv Shorey c Varun b Milind 0, Danish Malewar c Buddhi Rahul b Rakshann 13, Karun Nair c Himateja b Rakshann 3, Parth Rekhade c Milind b Anikethreddy 23, Yash Rathod lbw b Rakshann 16, Akshay Wadkar lbw b Anikethreddy 29, Harsh Dubey c Himateja b Siraj 65, Aditya Thakare c Tanmay b Anikethreddy 1, Yash Thakur c Milind b Thyagarajan 17, Akshay Wakhare (not out) 4; Extras (b-4, lb-7, w-1): 12; Total (in 55.5 overs): 190.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-13, 3-17, 4-28, 5-68, 6-80, 7-113, 8-121, 9-177.
Hyderabad bowling: Siraj 18-7-47-1, Milind 12-5-46-2, Rakshann 10-4-29-3, Anikethreddy 14-2-54-3, Thyagarajan 1.5-0-3-1
Hyderabad — 1st innings: Tanmay Agarwal (batting) 53, Abhirath Reddy c Taide b Thakur 20, Rahul Radesh b Wakhare 12, K. Himateja (batting) 5; Total (for two wkts. in 29 overs): 90.
Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-72.
Vidarbha bowling: Dubey 7-1-30-0, Thakare 6-3-10-0, Thakur 8-1-26-1, Wakhare 6-0-21-1, Rekhade 2-0-3-0
Toss: Hyderabad.
Published – January 30, 2025 06:50 pm IST
