HYDERABAD TAKE LEAD IN DRAWN GAME

RANJI

Hyderabad, Nov. 23: Delhi conceded the first innings lead to Hyderabad before the Ranji Trophy Group ‘B’ match ended in a drab draw here on Friday.

Delhi, resuming at 245 for six, did well to reach 339 courtesy Lalit Yadav, who scored a gritty 77. However, his effort was not enough to overcome Hyderabad’s first innings total of 460.

Hyderabad had reached 156 for one in their second innings when umpires called off play on Day Four. Hyderabad fetched three points for gaining the first innings lead while Delhi took just one.

The match’s outcome could have been different had Delhi opener Hiten Dalal (93) and captain Nitish Rana (82) gone on to make big hundreds on Day Three.

Delhi were a depleted outfit in the absence of Gautam Gambhir, Navdeep Saini and Ishant Sharma but full marks to Hyderabad for the impressive show they put up.

Tanmay Agarwal and Ravi Teja had scored hundreds for Hyderabad in the first innings. Their star bowler was left-arm spinner Tanay Thyagarajan, who took five wickets for 77 runs.

Agarwal followed up with an

82 in the second innings while his opening partner K. Rohit Rayudu remained unbeaten on 61.

Meanwhile in Ongole, Tamil Nadu’s lower order helped the team secure the first innings lead and three important points against Andhra.

The visiting side flirted with danger before going past Andhra’s total. Tamil Nadu slipped to 208 for 7 and 214 for

8 before going over the line. Apart from B. Aparajith (57,

184 balls, 6X4), knocks by J. Kousik (33), batting at No.7 and R. Sai Kishore (27 not out), batting at No.9, ensured that Tamil Nadu got three points from the drawn encounter.

Tamil Nadu now has five points from three games.

Rain played spoilsport washing out proceedings on the third day on Thursday.

Resuming at 122 for 3, Tamil Nadu suffered an early jolt when N. Jagadeesan (10) fell.

— PTI