Ganesh smashes a blistering 175 to set up Combined Dists’ 177-run win over Lankans CC

Gaddu Ganesh smashed a blistering century to set up Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) Combined Districts’ 177-run win over Lankans Cricket Club in Sri Lanka on Thursday.

In the third match of the Sri Lanka tour, the Combined Districts’ boys displayed their batting might in no uncertain terms.

HCA’s Combined Districts team win one game, lose another on Sri Lanka tour thus far

Electing to bat after winning the toss, Combined Districts made a disastrous start with opener Harshawardhan Singh (0) out for the first ball he faced. He was trapped leg before by Nilanka Premarathna off the third ball of the innings.

To make matters worse for the Combined Districts side, No.3 bat Narayana too perished for a duck as he was caught by Thenuka off Omesh Udara with the score reading two for two.

Ganesh and Rithwik lay a solid foundation

In strode Ganesh and along with the other opener Rithwik Surya took charge of the proceedings. Thereafter, it was the Combined Districts batters who stole the thunder. They toyed with the Lankans Cricket Club attack and asserted their superiority.

The duo piled on the runs with Rithwik scoring the most runs. They added 165 for the third wicket in 24.5 overs. Rithwik scored 84 of those runs while Ganesh scored 73.

Gaddu Ganesh smashed a blistering century to set up Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) Combined Districts’ 177-run win over Lankans Cricket Club in Sri Lanka on Thursday

Rithwik was sent back by Sewmina after the opener had scored 85 off 88 balls with eight fours and five sixes.

Ganesh and Krishna Reddy then continued with the onslaught. They added 97 for the fourth wicket before Krishna Reddy fell to Niawan after making a 26-ball 41 with three fours and three sixes.

Ganesh continued with his bashing and this time in the company of Afridi. They took the score to 343 before Ganesh fell for a sparking 175 which came off just 92 balls with 10 fours and 17 sixes.

Afridi remained unbeaten on 63 off 25 balls with five fours and five sixes and Arfaz was unbeaten on 17.

The Lankans Cricket Club’s challenge never got off the ground as they lost opener Sahan Kaushalya for a duck as he was caught by Lokesh off Arfaz. No.3 Kalana Madusanka made a topscore of 47 off 32 balls but the rest were unable to take up the challenge. The hosts were bowled out for 218 with Bharat Reddy and Lokesh doing the most damage. Bharat took three for 52 and Lokesh got two for 19.

Brief scores: HCA Combined Districts 395 for five in 40 overs (Rithwik Surya 85, Gaddu Ganesh 175, Sai Krishna Reddy 41, Afridi 63 not out; Nilanka Premratna 2/79) beat Lankans Cricket Club 218 in 34.4 overs (Kalana Madusanka 47, Yunath Senavirathna 28, Tenuka Praveen 28, Sasindu Battage 29, Damindu Sewmina 29; Bharat Reddy 3/52, Lokesh 2/19).