Hyderabad: Riding on their first innings lead of 102 against Jharkhand, the Hyderabad U-23 cricket team marched into the Plate division final — thereby qualifying for the Elite division quarterfinal — of the Col C.K. Nayudu Trophy cricket tournament.
Resuming their first innings at 234/4 on the final day at the Gymkhana ground on Thursday, Jharkhand were bowled out for 359 from 129.1 overs in reply to Hyderabad’s first innings total of 461 to hand the hosts the all-important lead.
For the hosts, Md Siraj with 4/87 was the top-performer with ball. Jharkhand’s Babul Kumar fell one hit short of the coveted three figure mark, at 94. Despite enjoying the upper hand, Babul’s composure caused the hosts quite a few headaches.
He played delectable shots all over the ground during the course of his 228-ball stay at the wicket during which he smashed the ball to the boundary a dozen times. Ultimately, his heroics went in vain.
At stumps, Hyderabad had made 114/1 in 30 overs in their second innings with Jaweed Ali scoring a half-century (57) and K. Rohit Rayudu being unbeaten on 34. Hyderabad, led by Himalay Agarwal, will now clash with Madhya Pradesh in the Elite division quarterfinal encounter to be played in Hyderabad from February 10 to 13.
Brief scores (Day-4): Hyderabad 461 & 114/1 in 30 overs (Jaweed Ali 57, K. Rohit Rayudu 34 n.o, B. Yathin Reddy 17 n.o) drew with Jharkhand 359 in 129.1 overs (Babul Kumar 94 — 228b, 4x12, Ankit Dabas 46, Md Siraj 4/87).
