Rajasthan rally to humble Hyderabad by 9 wickets

Hyderabad, Jan. 29: Hyderabad crashed to yet another humiliating defeat, this time by nine wickets against Rajasthan in their Group ‘A’ Ranji Trophy match played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Wednesday.

Resuming their second innings at 101/6, the hosts could only manage to add was 45 runs, before getting bowled out for 156 in just 53.4 overs. P. Akshath Reddy was the lone bright spot as he top-scored with a cautious 71.

Chasing 192 for a win, Rajasthan came out all guns blazing as Manender Singh smashed 107 from 114 balls and Mahipal Lomror played second fiddle with an unbeaten 71 to seal the deal with the loss of just one wicket. The visitors had conceded a first innings lead of 36 runs.

Hyderabad now languish at the bottom of the combined cross pool of 18 teams with just six points from seven matches — having won one and lost six of them.

Andhra are sitting pretty at the top with 27 points to their credit from six games — they won four of them and drew two.

Meanwhile, hosts Bengal and Delhi fought hard for three points as rain and bad light allowed less than an hour’s play on the penultimate day of their Group ‘A’ match in Kolkata.

Jonty Sidhu was unbeaten on 49 after surviving an lbw off a no-ball as Delhi were 217 for 7, still trailing Bengal by 101 runs as only 9.3 overs were possible.

Both the teams will look to get a first innings lead to secure three points, even as more rain is forecast for the final day. The 53 minutes was action-packed as pacer Mukesh Kumar bowled his heart out. — Agencies