Chennai, Sep 4 (UNI) Chhattisgarh and TNCA President’s XI gained first innings lead at the end of day three in the semifinals of the All India Buchi Babu cricket tournament held in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.
While Chhattisgarh secured a huge 273 lead against TNCA XI at Natham in Dindigul, TNCA President’s XI , thanks to overnight not out batsman Rithik Easwaran’s century, secured a slender 14-run lead against Hyderabad at Tirunelveli.
Chhattisgarh, resuming at 450 for 9, were bowled out for 467 within the first half an hour on the third morning, before skittling out TNCA XI for a paltry 194 in 64.4 overs.
Barring three 30-plus scores, none of the TNCA XI batsmen came up with worthwhile contribution, as Chhattisgarh spinners spun a web around them.
Left armers Gangandeep Singh (4 for 34) and Shashank Tiwari (two for 18) and offie Mohamd
Irfan (two for 33) shared eight wickets among them to help Chhattisgarh gain a big lead.
Instead of enforcing the follow-on, Chhattisgarh chose to bat for the second time and finished the day at 49 for three, securing an overall lead of 322 runs.
In the other semifinal, TNCA President’s XI, which resumed at 291 for six, owed a lot to Rithik Easwaran in getting the crucial lead after losing No.8 M.Mohammed (47) early, who added just six runs to his overnight score of 41.
Rithik, 83 not out overnight, ensured that the lead was secured by notching up his maiden century.
He scored 100 in 140 balls with nine fours an two sixers.
For Hyderabad left arm spinner Tanay Thyagarajan claimed seven wickets for 95 runs.
Starting the second innings with 14 runs adrift, Hyderabad scored 227 for seven in 75 overs, with No.8 T.Ravi Teja and No.9 C V Milind, doing the rescue act by remaining unbeaten on 33 and 37 respectively at close.
Earlier No.3 Rohith Rayudu scored 61 (7×4, 1×6) and Hima Teja contributed 37 as left arm medium pacer Gurjapneet Singh and right arm speedster M Mohamnmed claimed three wickets each.
Hyderabad goes into the fourth and final day on the morrow with an overall lead of 213 runs and three wickets in hand.
Brief scores :
Hyderabad 313 and 227 for seven in 75 overs (Rohith Rayudu 61, Hima Teja 37, T. Ravi Teja 33 batting, C.V. Milind 37 batting, Gurjapneet Singh three for 27, M. Mohammed three for 39) vs TNCA President’s XI 327 in 100.4 overs (R. Vimal Khumar 75, K.T.A. Madhava Prasad 40, S. Rithik Easwaran 100, M. Mohammed 47, Tanay Thyagarajann seven for 95, C.V. Milind two for 59).
Chhattisgarh 467 in 150.5 overs (Ayush Pandey 82, Anuj Tiwari 93, Amandeep Khare 97, Prateek Yadav 109, S. Lakshay Jain five for 152 , S. Ajith Ram four for 115) and 49 for three in 27 overs (S. Lakshay Jain two for 22) vs TNCA XI 194 in 64.4 overs (G. Ajitesh 39, M. Boopathi Vaishna Kumar 33, Nidhish S. Rajagopal 34, Gagandeep Singh four for 34, Shashank Tiwari two for 18, Mohammad Irfan two for 33).
