Hyderabad

In a sport that loves a neat symmetry, Wednesday offered a cruel one for Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy: a blow to open the day against Chhattisgarh at the Gymkhana, a blow to close it, and in the middle a stretch of hard-won hope that, unfortunately for the host, never quite hardened into anything solid.

Just like the visitors a day earlier, Hyderabad lasted only 3.1 overs on day three, adding just five runs and with that, ceding the first-innings lead.

An upbeat Chhattisgarh was intent on piling on the runs as Ayush Pandey and Anuj Tiwary found the fence in each of the first three overs. Rakshann Readdi halted the charge by removing Ayush, and a few overs later Aniketh sent Anuj packing.

Another setback followed after the drinks break, when Vikalp Tiwari’s backfoot punch went straight to Varun Goud at mid-off. The momentum was Hyderabad’s, but it could not capitalise. Mayank Verma and Sanjeet Desai played a calculated hand to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Both brought up their half-centuries after lunch, Mayank in 60 balls and Sanjeet in 121. When Tanay breached Sanjeet’s defence to end the 115-run partnership, it came as a relief for Hyderabad.

Looking to try something different, C.V. Milind turned to Abhirath Reddy, who struck in just his second ball of the match, rattling Prateek Yadav’s stumps and setting off on an Imran Tahir-esque celebratory run.

Five overs into the third session, Rakshann and Aniketh accounted for Mayank, Ajay Mandal, Jayant Yadav and Amandeep Khare, with Hyderabad sensing a quick finish. However, Chhattisgarh dug in with a 55-run last-wicket stand to finish on 254.

Chasing 259 for victory, Tanmay Agarwal and Abhirath walked out looking to see off the five overs left until stumps. But Dev Aditya Singh had other plans. He dismissed Tanmay and Ruthik Yadav for ducks, dealing Hyderabad a late double blow.

Chhattisgarh - 1st innings: 284.

Hyderabad - 1st innings: Tanmay Agarwal c Anuj b Jadeja 3, Abhirath Reddy c&b Jayant 35, Rahul Radesh c Ayush b Jadeja 72, K. Himateja b Aditya 46, Varun Goud c Prateek b Dharmendrasinh 23, Pragnay Reddy b Jadeja 17, Ruthik Yadav b Jadeja 4, C.V. Milind c Ajay b Jadeja 1, Tanay Thyagarajann lbw b Jayant 34, Aniketh Reddy c Aditya b Ajay 32, Rakshann Readdi (not out) 1; Extras (b-8, lb-4): 12; Total (in 86.1 overs): 280.

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-65, 3-138, 4-173, 5-195, 6-210, 7-212, 8-212, 9-262.

Chhattisgarh bowling: Aditya 19-2-52-2, Jadeja 24-3-84-5, Jayant 24.1-2-75-2, Ajay 12-3-37-1, Prateek 1-0-1-0, Vikalp 6-0-19-0.

Chhattisgarh - 2nd innings: Ayush Pandey lbw b Rakshann 10, Anuj Tiwary c Pragnay b Aniketh 17, Vikalp Tiwari c Varun b Ruthik 14, Mayank Verma b Rakshann 81, Sanjeet Desai b Tanay 51, Prateek Yadav b Abhirath 18, Amandeep Khare c Abhirath b Rakshann 6, Ajay Mandal c Tanmay b Aniketh 0, Jaynat Yadav b Aniketh 0, Dev Aditya Singh (not out) 17, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja lbw b Ruthik 38; Extras (b-1, lb-1): 2; Total (in 68.4 overs): 254.

Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-31, 3-47, 4-162, 5-190, 6-196, 7-197, 8-199, 9-199.

Hyderabad bowling: Milind 9-1-23-0, Rakshann 13-1-45-3, Aniketh 18-3-68-3, Tanay 18-2-71-1, Ruthik 7.4-1-35-2, Varun 2-0-8-0, Abhirath 1-0-2-1.

Hyderabad - 2nd innings: Tanmay Agarwal c Prateek b Aditya 0, Abhirath Reddy (batting) 8, Ruthik Yadav c Ajay b Aditya 0, Rahul Radesh (batting) 3; Extras (lb-2): 2; Total (for two wkts. in five overs): 13.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-0.

Chhattisgarh bowling: Aditya 3-1-7-2, Dharmendrasinh 1-0-4-0, Jayant 1-1-0-0.