ONGOLE:
Andhra have been systematic and methodical about their campaign this season. One of their strategies has been to hunt down their enemies in familiar terrain. Andhra played three of their four home games at the CSR Sarma ground with cent percent result and the points earned played a key role in their reaching the quarterfinals of the
Ranji Trophy for the first time from the Elite group. Andhra had earlier qualified thrice for the quarters - twice from South Zone and once from Plate group.
So dominant have they been at home that at one stage they were leading the combined Group A & B table before two back to back defeats on the road saw them finish fifth and earn a shot at three-time finalists and last year's runners-up
Saurashtra
in a five-day game which begins here on Thursday.
Andhra, who began their season with a game at Mulapadu, near Vijayawada, against defending champions Vidarbha, showed immense character to fight back and force a draw after conceding a huge 230-run lead. Though the game helped the team to believe in themselves, it made the
Andhra Cricket Association
(ACA) officials opt for Ongole as the venue for the remaining home games. The move paid off rich dividends as Andhra had a stupendous run and posted four wins - three at home - in the next five matches to surge to the top. Out of the eight games played at this ground, Andhra have won five and lost only one.
The hosts are, therefore, relying on the conditions here and the ability of their pacers to make best use of it to trump Saurashtra and try to make it to the semifinals of the premier tournament for the first time in their cricketing history. Bowling all-rounder KV Sasikanth has been in top gear as his 35 wickets, in seven games, have played a major role for his team. Pacers Ch Stephen (23), Y Prithvi Raj (15), Shaik Mohd Rafi (10) too have played the supporting role well. Shoaib Mohd Khan (13) has filled in the spinners role when needed.
Andhra's batting will revolve around Ricky Bhui, who has put in a consistent show this season. The talented youngster is Andhra's leading run-getter this season with 431 runs and two centuries. But the talking point is that he has got runs in tight situations. He made an unbeaten 100 against Vidarbha to eke out a draw and then scored 144 not out to set up a win against Delhi here.
Openers CR Gnaneshwar (364) and DB Prashanth Kumar (326), Karan Shinde (326) and KS Bharat (255) have been among the runs but they will be up against Saurashtra's attack led by Jaydev Unadkat, who has 51 wickets this season. Unadkat has taken his game a notch higher this season and that has helped his side post four wins.
In Cheteshwar Pujara's absence, Saurashtra will continue to rely upon their run-machine Sheldon Jackson, who has scored a lot of his runs at crucial times. Jackson, who was rested in the previous game, has 605 runs to his credit this season and will be the key for his team.
Harvik Desai (503), Arpit Vasavada (466), Chiraj Jani (306) will be others who need to come to the party here.
Teams (from): Andhra: KS Bharat (capt/WK), Ricky Bhui, CR Gnaneshwar, DB Prashanth Kumar, B Sumanth, Md Shoaib Khan, KV Sasikanth, Y Prithvi Raj, Shaik Md Rafi, A Vinay Kumar, K Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jyothi Sai, Karan Shinde, P Girinath Reddy, Ch Stephen, M Praneeth.Saurashtra: Jaydev Unadkat, Sheldon Jackson, Snell Patel, Arpit Vasavada, Prerak Mankad, Chiraj Jani, Harvik Desai, Samarth Vyas, Dharmendra Jadeja, Kamlesh Makwana, Kushang Patel, Chetan Sakariya, Parthkumar Bhut, Avi Barot, Vishvaraj Jadeja, Kishan Parmar.
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