Hyderabad stare at another big loss

Hyderabad: Continuing their woeful run this season in which they lost five matches on the trot, relegation-threatened Hyderabad were staring at yet another defeat. At close of play on the third day, Hyderabad were 90 for five in their second innings - just 12 runs ahead - after conceding a 78-run first innings lead to Delhi in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match at the RGIC Stadium, here on Thursday.
With just one point in hand after six matches and unless there is some dramatic turn of events on the final day, Hyderabad’s relegation to Plate Group for the next season looks imminent.
The penultimate day’s play belonged to Delhi duo - 23-year-old middle-order batter Ayush Badoni, who narrowly missed his maiden double century with a stroke-filled 191 (230 balls, 4x24, 6x6) and medium pacer Harshit Rana (58 & 4/27) - who stood out with their performances to put the visitors in command.
Resuming at 223 for 5, with 132 runs behind and just five wickets in hand, it looked like Delhi would concede the lead to Hyderabad as they lost three wickets in quick succession. Overnight batsman Lalit Yadav (19; 78b, 4x2) nicked one to wicketkeeper Rahul Radesh off medium pacer Ajay Dev Goud when the score was 256.
Then spinner G Aniketh Reddy, who returned with his second five-wicket haul (34-4-143-5), raised Hyderabad’s hopes with his double strike in the 66th over. He first dismissed wicket-keeper Anuj Rawat (11; 18b, 4x2) and two balls later caught Pranshu Vijayran (0) plumb in front for a duck.
However, Badoni’s brilliant counter attack paid off for the visitors. Badoni, who got out while playing a sweep shot to Aniketh when the Delhi total was 399, added 122 runs for the ninth wicket with Rana and ensured a lead for Delhi.
By the time Badoni got out, Delhi were 44 runs ahead. However, Rana (58; 90 balls, 4x8, 6x1) further frustrated Hyderabad by adding another 34 for the last wicket with Divij Mehra (8 not out).
Later, Rana returned to break Hyderabad’s back by taking four wickets, including that of skipper Tanmay Agarwal (11; 18b, 4x2). Rana was on a hat-trick when he removed K Nitesh Reddy (0) and Chandan Sahani (0) off successive deliveries but bowled two no balls to miss out. Rana returned again to remove Hyderabad’s first innings centurion K Rohit Rayudu (32; 77b, 4x3) in the 27th over to add to the hosts’ misery. Santosh Goud was batting on 20 and giving him company was Shashank Lokesh on 12.
Andhra beat Assam
Visakhapatnam: Andhra defeated Assam by an innings and 95 runs in the final round league of the Ranji Trohy Elite group B match at the PVG Raju ACA sports complex, Chintalavalsa, Vizianagaram, on Thursday. They are anxiously waiting for the result of the Mumbai-Maharashtra match on the fourth and final day on Friday and hoping to grab the second knockout berth from the group as these two teams tied on the first innings total.