Aniketh and Rakshann help Hyderabad pull off a miraculous 1-wicket win over Chhattisgarh

G Aniketh Reddy and Rakshann Readdi pulled off a magical one-wicket win for Hyderabad against Chhattisgarh in a nerve-wracking and tense battle on the final day of their four-day Elite Group B Ranji Trophy match at the Gymkhana Ground in Secunderabad on Thursday.

The win kept Hyderabad on top of the group with 20 points from four matches with three victories and strengthened their position for the knock-outs.

Hyderabad have their task cut out on final day as they need 246 with eight wickets in hand

Resuming at their overnight score of 13 for two, chasing 259 for victory, Hyderabad’s overnight pair of Abhirath Reddy and Rahul Radesh laid the foundation with a solid 89-run partnership before Rahul was caught by Vikalp Tiwari off spinner Jayant Yadav. Rahul made 39 off 79 balls with two fours and a six. Rahul and Abhirath’s partnership came off 148 balls with Abhirath scoring 48 off 69 balls while Rahul made 39.

M Abhirath Reddy made 68 to keep Hyderabad in hunt against Chhattisgarh

K Himateja (8) fell cheaply as he was caught behind by Mayank Verma off left-arm spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja but Abhirath found an able partner in A Varun Goud.

The duo defied the Chhattisgarh attack for 11.2 overs and added 40 for the fifth wicket before Abhirath fell at the stroke of lunch. Abhirath was bowled by left-arm spinner Ajay Mandal for 68 off 110 balls with eight fours.

After the break, Chhattisgarh got rid of M Pragnay Reddy (1), who was caught by Ayush Pandey off Mandal, as they got into a position of strength. At 142 for six, Hyderabad were in quite some trouble.

However, Varun and skipper CV Milind steadied the nerves with a 40-run partnership for the seventh wicket. When things were beginning to look up for the hosts, off-spinner Jayant trapped Milind leg before. The Hyderabad skipper made 22 off 38 balls with two fours and a six.

Aelgani Varun Goud hit a superb 55 under pressure to keep Hyderabad alive

First innings’ hero Tanay Thyagarajan, who had made 34 and helped Hyderabad reach within Chhattisgarh’s score, was caught by Anuj Tiwary off pacer Dev Aditya Singh for eight and Hyderabad were 198 for eight.

Aniketh and Rakshann defy the odds

Aniketh Reddy, who too played an invaluable innings in the first innings by scoring 32, once again stood like the Rock of Gibraltar. The left-arm spinner showed that he is no bunny with the bat as he withstood the pressure and added 22 for the ninth wicket with Varun Goud.

However, disaster struck the hosts again as Varun was bowled by Jadeja after making a fighting 55 off 95 balls with three fours. Hyderabad were reduced to 220 for nine and needed 39 more for victory with the last pair at the crease. It led to memories of the hosts’ inability to get the first innings lead but his time around, the Hyderabad last pair was determined to rewrite the script.

Aniketh and Rakshann Readdi, who was quite a handful with the cherry in this game with six wickets in the game, exhibited nerve of steel. The duo kept the Chhattisgarh attack at bay while slowly and steadily inching their way closer to the tape.

G Aniketh Reddy’s 32 and 39 not out and the five wickets he took in the game will stand out as a memorable one in the history of Hyderabad cricket

Every ball defended and every run scored turned out to be a miracle for Hyderabad as Aniketh and Rakshann held on firmly. Chhattisgarh threw everything at them but it was not going to be their day.

Slowly, Hyderabad creeped up to 253 and they needed six more for victory. Rakshann took a hell of a risk but the gamble paid off. He took on Jayant Yadav and cleared the rope for a six to set off the celebrations in the Hyderabad camp.

The duo stood firmly for 104 while scoring the 39 runs for victory. Aniketh’s share was 24 off 38 balls and Rakshann got 15 off 66 balls.

Hyderabad got 259 for nine in 79.4 overs with Aniketh on 39 off 56 balls with a four and two sixes, and Rakshann was on 15 with the winning six.

Rakshann Readdi took six wickets in the match but more importantly made an unbeaten 15 in Hyderabad’s memorable chase against Chhattisgarh

Aniketh’s 32 and 39 not out and the five wickets he took in the game will stand out as a memorable one in the history of Hyderabad cricket.

For Chhattisgarh, it turned out to be a case of so near yet so far. But they can take heart from the fact that they put up a gallant fight and also won the game. Their bowlers had done well in the first innings to get the four-run lead and if the batters had shown a bit more purpose in the second innings, things may have been different.

Brief scores: Chhattisgarh 284 & 254 lost to Hyderabad 280 & 259 for nine in 79.4 overs (Abhirath Reddy 68, Rahul Radesh 39, A Varun Goud 55, CV Milind 22, G Aniketh Reddy 39 not out, C Rakshann Readdi 15 not out; Dev Aditya Singh 3/28, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja 2/87 Jayant Yadav 2/66, Ajay Mandal 2/74).