VISAKHAPATNAM: Medium pacer KV Sasikanth with a five-for led Andhra to a 154-run win over Hyderabad in an Elite Group B league match of the Ranji trophy tournament at the PVG Raju ACA sports complex, Chintalavalsa, Vizianagaram on Friday.
Debutant K Sudarshan picked up three wickets and K Nitish Kumar Reddy, who claimed four wickets in the first innings, and Shoaib Mohammed Khan, had one each as Andhra bowled out Hyderabad for 246, after the post-lunch drinks break.
Resuming at 75 for two, chasing a target of 401, Hyderabad were up against an Andhra attack led by Sasikanth, who struck in consecutive balls in the first over itself, removing the well set overnight batsman K Rohit Rayudu and then Bhavesh Seth, both were caught behind by KS Bharat.
Chandan Sahani denied him a hat-trick. Soon the other overnight batter Alankrit went back to the dressing room, hit on his helmet by a Nitish delivery with the score on 94 for four, after adding 19 runs with Sahani. Then Sahani and T Ravi Teja (22) repaired the innings with a 63-run stand before Sasikanth claimed Ravi Teja.
Soon Sahani fell to Nitish and though Alankrit returned he and Bhagat Varma left without much addition to the total. A 46-run stand for the last wicket between Shashank M (33) and Kartikeya Kak (16 not out) was a brave effort but was not enough for the visitors.
The talented Sasikanth recorded his seventh five-for in his 26th first-class match (47th innings) and ended up with 99 wickets, and is all set to reach the 100-mark in the next match against Delhi starting on Tuesday. The 27 years old Visakhapatnam player also leads the Andhra bowlers with 23 wickets in the tournament this season.
Andhra beat Hyderabad for the fourth time in the 54 Ranji matches they have played so far, drawing 21 times and losing 29 matches.
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