Andhra Pradesh take big lead against Bihar in Ranji Trophy

KOLKATA: Captain Ricky Bhui (58 runs off 82 balls) and Shaik Rasheed (76 batting off 115 balls) struck half-centuries while most other top order batters made useful contributions as Andhra Pradesh surpassed Bihar’s first-innings score of 182 on Day 2 of their Ranji Trophy Group B match at Moin-ul Haq Stadium in Patna on Saturday.
At stumps, the visitors were on 313 for five from 86 overs.
Andhra openers Prasanth Kumar (31 off 42 balls) and wicketkeeper-batter Uppara Girinath (41 off 105 balls) played contrasting innings to lay a solid platform for their teammates to come.
However, India player Hanuma Vihari, coming at No. 3, could not contribute much as he fell to his Bihar counterpart Ashutosh Aman, holing out a catch to Raghuvendra Pratap Singh. Bhui then joined hands with Girinath to stitch together 56 runs for the third wicket before falling to RP Singh.
None of the Andhra batters could convert their starts but still it was enough for them to take a 131-run lead going into the third day.
Rasheed and Nitish Kumar Reddy (39 batting) are at the crease. Bihar captain Aman and RP Singh scalped two wickets each while Sakibul Gani gave the home side the first breakthrough of the day.
Brief scores: Bihar 182. Andhra 313/5 in 86 overs (S Rasheed 76 batting, R Bhui 58; RP Singh 2/46, A Aman 2/54)