Ranji Trophy: Siraj’s Hyderabad tighten grip on Andhra in Telugu-states derby, lead by 169 after Day 2

Hyderabad, captained by India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, took firm control of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B contest against Andhra on Monday, 19 October, finishing the second day 169 runs ahead with eight second-innings wickets in hand at the Andhra Cricket Association’s DVR Ground in Mulapadu, near Vijayawada.

Andhra, who resumed on 9 without loss, were bowled out for 184 in 63 overs in reply to Hyderabad’s 275, conceding a first-innings lead of 91. Hyderabad then reached 78 for 2 in 23 overs by stumps, according to the BCCI scorecard.

Thyagarajan leads the attack

Tanay Thyagarajan did most of the damage with 5 for 63, his second five-wicket haul in as many matches this season. Siraj made the first breakthrough, bowling opener Abhishek Reddy for 5.

Shaik Rasheed offered Andhra’s only sustained resistance with 61 off 114 balls, while Ricky Bhui made 28 before being run out. Andhra’s middle and lower order could not build on Rasheed’s effort, and the innings folded well short of Hyderabad’s total.

Opener Tanmay Agarwal anchored the second innings and was unbeaten on 49 at the close.

How Day 1 unfolded

After batting first on Sunday, 18 October, Hyderabad were given a strong start by Tanmay and Abhirath Reddy, who added 109 for the first wicket. Abhirath top-scored with 67 off 108 balls and Tanmay made 42 off 75.

Andhra’s bowlers then pegged them back, reducing Hyderabad to 141 for 4. Rahul Radesh held the innings together with an unbeaten 58 off 105 balls, sharing a 53-run fifth-wicket stand with Pragnay Reddy, who made 31. Hyderabad were eventually all out for 275 in 86 overs.

Tripurana Vijay was Andhra’s most successful bowler with 4 for 90. Saurabh Kumar took 3 for 75 and left-arm spinner Lalith Mohan 3 for 78.

What is at stake in the Ranji Trophy table

The derby between the two Telugu states carries weight in the group table. Hyderabad arrived on the back of an innings-and-40-run win over Tripura that earned them seven points. Andhra drew their opener against Karnataka, collecting three points for a first-innings lead.

With the first-innings lead already secured, Hyderabad are assured of the bigger share of points if the match ends in a draw. Hyderabad’s aim on the third day, 20 October, was to build the lead quickly and leave their bowlers enough time to dismiss Andhra a second time before the match ends on Wednesday, 21 October.

For Andhra, the task on the third morning, 20 October, was to restrict Hyderabad early and keep any eventual target within reach, or bat out the remaining time to save the game.

Also read: Mizoram’s Chinmay Sutar makes 400 not out, only the second quadruple hundred in Ranji Trophy history · India fly out for six-week New Zealand tour; Tilak, Nitish and Siraj carry the Telugu flag · Former Hyderabad spinner Pragyan Ojha to head India’s men’s selection panel; Ramesh Powar inducted