A counter-attacking 79-run eighth-wicket partnership from Hima Teja (91st, 184b, 10×4) and CV Milind (58th, 70b, 8×4, 3×6) and a late strike from Tanai Thiagarajan (40th, 25b, 7×4) helped Hyderabad post a first-day lead of 313 runs against TNCA Presidents in the semifinal of the All-India Buchi Babu Tournament at the ICL Stadium in Tirunelveli on Monday.
TNCA missed a good opportunity as their bowlers dominated the game all day.
Disaster struck Hyderabad on the third ball of the innings, when left-arm pacer Gurjapneet Singh was trapped in front by a beautiful inswing delivery from opener M. Abhirath.
Pacer M. Mohammed sent back Rohit Rayudu in the second over and dismissed Hyderabad captain Rahul Singh in the 12th over to reduce his team to 34-3 in the first hour of the morning.
Amidst the constant chatter and banter between the close-range fielders and bowlers, Nitesh Kanala (59, 77b, 9×4, 1×6) and Teja counterattacked by creating scoring boundaries around the pitch, putting pressure on the home side again.
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The frustration was palpable on TNCA captain M. Siddharth’s face as Nitesh smashed three successive boundaries to reach his fifty in style against Gurjapneeet.
While much was being said and Siddharth was trying to offend Nitesh, Nitesh died in the off-overs when he lobbed the ball straight at Fielder, cutting off the fourth wicket score of 80 runs.
With Teha’s partners depleted, it was only a matter of time before the TNCA side defeated Hyderabad by 313 runs.
score
Hyderabad scored 313 runs (Nitesh Kannala 59, Hima Teja 91, CV Milind 58, Tanai Thiagarajan 40) in 78.4 overs while TNCA Chairman’s side won 9/0 in 5 overs.
