Opener Pattapu Raghava, who struck a century, was the saving grace for Hyderabad as the Under-23 fought with its back to wall against Vidarbha in their Col CK Nayudu Trophy game at the NFC ground in Hyderabad on Saturday.
By close of play on the second day of the four-day match, Hyderabad were battling it out, having reached 238 for six. M Ruthik Yadav was batting on a patient 29 off 72 balls and struck three fours. Giving him company was Shashank M on 2.
Hyderabad still need 183 runs to gain the first innings lead. The task looks quite challenging as the hosts don’t have wickets in hand to go for it.
Earlier, resuming at their overnight score of 377 for seven, Vidarbha went on to make 420. Jagjot completed a much-deserved century before falling in the form of the ninth wicket after making 105 off 163 balls. He struck seven fours and five sixes in his knock.
Mohd Abdul Adnan finished with figures of four for 50, while Malik and Shashank took two wickets apiece.
Raghava holds one end up, Hyderabad still need 183 for lead
Hyderabad began their innings on a positive note with opener Raghava and Wafi Kachchhi making 58 for the first wicket before Wafi (35; 46 balls, 6×4) fell to Arjun Ingle.
There were a couple of promising partnerships, but the Hyderabad batters failed to capitalise on them. This allowed Vidarbha bowlers to dictate terms.
Raghava and Aravelly Avanish added 40 more before Avanish (23) was bowled by Himanshu Kawale and skipper Mayank Gupta (9) failed to last long.
Raghava and Dheeraj Goud (27) then stitched a 49-run partnership for the fourth wicket before the latter perished.
Vignesh Reddy (2) was run out, and Hyderabad were 171 for five.
Raghava and Ruthik then took the score to 229 before Raghava fell after his century. He made 104 off 225 balls with 11 fours and two sixes.
SCOREBOARD
Vidarbha (1st innings): Vedant Dighade c Avanish b Adnan 19, Abhishek S Agrawal c Gupta b Shashank 33, Shree Choudhary c Raghava b Adnan 67, Md Faiz lbw Kachchhi 1, Aditya Ahuja c Gupta b Shashank 8, Varun Raj Singh Bisht c Malik b Rathod 146, Jagjot c Vignesh b Adnan 105, Himanshu Kawale c Raghava b Malik 1, Sanskar Chavate c Ruthvik b Malik 13, Gaurav Farde (not out) 9, Arjun Ingle c Avanish b Adnan 1; Extras: (NB4, W2, B11) 17. Total: (all out in 95 overs) 420.
Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-70, 3-75, 4-88, 5-199, 6-345, 7-348, 8-390, 9-418.
Bowling: Malik 18-4-63-2, Dinesh Rathod 18-3-78-1, Mohd Abdul Adnan 15-0-50-4, Shashank M 19-1-82-2, Wafi Kachchhi 16-1-81-1, M Ruthvik Yadav 7-0-40-0, Mayank Gupta 2-0-15-0.
Hyderabad (1st innings): Pattapu Raghava c Ahuja b Farde 104, Wafi Kachchhi c Dighade b Ingle 35, Aravelly Avanish b Kawale 23, Mayank Gupta lbw Kawale 9, Dheeraj Goud lbw Farde 27, Vignesh Reddy run out (sub-Prabhal Choukhande) 2, M Ruthik Yadav (batting) 29, Shashank M (batting) 2; Extras: (B7) 7. Total: (For 6 wickets in 78 overs) 238.
Fall of wickets: 1-58, 2-98, 3-118, 4-167, 5-171, 6-229.
Bowling: Arjun Ingle 12-1-44-1, Sanskar Chavate 14-2-35-0, Gaurav Farde 13-0-53-2, Himanshu Kawale 26-8-60-2, Jagjot 13-2-39-0.
