Hyderabad-Andhra game ends in a tame draw

Hyderabad: The South Zone Ranji Trophy match between Hyderabad and Andhra ended in a tame draw here yesterday with the hosts failing to bowl out the visitors a second time.

In a fine batting display on the final day, Hyderabad extended its one run lead to 130 after batting for 99 minutes off 21.1 overs before the declaration was made.

The overnight not out batsmen were in different gear altogether today. Showing urgency the most prolific Hyderabad batsman in recent times MV Sridhar in association with his overnight partner Vanka Pratap batted freely in piling up runs to register the third century partnership of the innings. When Sridhar was caught at extra-cover by Amit Pathak, Hyderabad declared its innings closed at 510 for six with a lead of 130 runs.

Hyderabad had an outside chance to bowl the opposition out in a minimum of 67 overs inclusive of 15 mandatory overs. Andhra began its second essay cautiously only to see Venkatapathi Raju coming on to bowl the eighth over over of the innings replacing VVS Laxman who shared the new ball with Narenderpal Singh, making inroads when he bowled skipper Amit Pathak who tried to cut a low incoming ball only to edge it on to his stumps.

After a 41-run stand between Reddy and Nagini Kumar [13] for the 2nd wicket Andhra lost the former. He tried to play across on to the on-side off a Raju delivery that again kept low. Umpire Ramchandran had no hesitation in declaring Reddy out leg before. Reddy had swept Raju for a six to the square-leg area. Nagini Kumar also was out in similar fashion, the bowler being Kanwaljeet Singh, coming on for his second spell.

Andhra at tea were 84 for 3 in 33 overs. Venugopala Rao and R V Ch Prasad were unseperated at the start of the 15 mandatory overs. In the 13th and 14th overs both the batsmen were back in the pavilion.

Hyderabad bowled 16 overs in the last hour but to no avail. Had the hosts batted positively on the third day, the result of the match could have been different. Andhra closed at 141 for five.

Hyderabad garnered 5 points, while Andhra had to remain content with 3 points. In the next match Hyderabad will play Kerala in Kerala, while Andhra will play Goa at home.