Andhra take Lead

Andhra were well placed at close of play on the second day of their South Zone under-19 cricket match for the Ghulam Ahmed Trophy against Hyderabad at Hyderabad on Monday. After taking a first innings lead of 37 runs, Andhra took six Hyderabad second innings wickets for 111 runs by stumps.Hyderabad are ahead by only 74 runs with four wickets in hand and Andhra look all set to take eight points from the match on the final day tomorrow.

Raj Kiran [53] and Md Faiq [66] helped Andhra get past Hyderabad's total for their team to get the vital first innings lead. They added 91 runs for the eighth wicket.

Resuming at 53 for four, Andhra lost their captain Y Venugopala Rao who was leg before to Indrasekhar Reddy at 76 after adding 39 runs with his younger brother Gnangeswara Rao off 19.1 overs. Half an hour later, Gnaneswara Rao also departed, caught at gully by Raghuram Janak in Arjun Yadav's third over for a well made 33 inclusive of two fours and a six off Arjun Yadav over long-on.

Dimunative Zakir Baig joined Raj Kiran at 92 for 6 and they added a valuable 28 runs for the seventh wicket off 11.5 overs. Zakir Baigh was then neatly caught at short leg by Shashank Nag off Indrasekhar Reddy for 12. At 120 for 7 off 59.1 overs Andhra were in danger of folding up before lunch. But luck favoured Andhra, as Raj Kiran was dropped by the bowler Arjun Yadav when the batsman was 2 in Andhra's total of 79/5. Thereafter, he batted sensibly to take his team into the lead in the company of Md. Faiq. Raj Kiran was eighth out at 211 after a job well done.

For the hosts, left arm spinner Indrasehkar Reddy was the most successful bowler with five for 55.

In the Hyderabad second innings, three suicidal run-outs backed by some brilliant fielding by the visitors pinned Hyderabad to wall. Amidst the ruins, lanky Ibrahim Khaleel held firm with an unbeaten 48 runs compiled off 63 balls with the help of four fours and huge 6 off off-spinner Md Faiq. Skipper Venugopala Rao, the tormentor in the first innings for Hyderabad was among the wickets again claiming 3 for 40 in 13 overs.