Nitin Yadav and Malik spare Hyderabad the blushes with 40-run stand for ninth wicket

Nitin Sai Yadav and No.10 bat MA Malik spared Hyderabad the blushes with a 40-run partnership which helped the hosts take the all-important first innings lead against Assam in their Col CK Nayudu Trophy match at the RGIC Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday.

Reduced to 235 for eight, Hyderabad were in danger of falling short of Assam’s first innings score of 246 but Nitin and Malik, who had taken five wickets in the Assam innings, came to Hyderabad’s rescue. The duo added 40 off 56 balls with Nitin scoring a 37-ball 34 and Malik holding fort at the other end. He contributed just five off 19 balls but his innings was worth its weight in gold. Nitin fell for a 63-ball 51 which contained eight fours and a six.

Hyderabad finally were all out for 293 with Malik remaining unconquered on 15 (27 balls; 3×4). After conceding a 47-run lead, Assam lost Parvej Musaraf (0) to the fourth ball of the innings with nothing on the board. Malik had the Assam opener caught behind by Aravelly Avanish to crown another good day on the field.  Assam, at stumps on the second day, were 40 for one, still seven runs behind the hosts. Rajveer Singh was batting on 23 and Hrishikesh Borah on 16.

Earlier, resuming at their overnight score of 55 for no loss, Hyderabad lost their skipper P Aman Rao (47) for the addition of 14 to the total.

The Hyderabad batters got starts but none of them could capitalize on it and build an innings. Bhargab Pratim Lahkar did the most damage with a five for 74 haul, while Ayushman Malakar took three for 78.

Brief scores: Assam 246 in 76.5 overs & 40/1 in 14 overs vs Hyderabad 293 in 85 overs (P Aman Rao 47, Rahul Radesh 43, Nitin Sai Yadav 51, Ayushman M 3/78, Bhargab Pratim 5/74).