Robust Rayudu powers Hyderabad Heroes to 159/6

Hyderabad, Oct 10 (UNI) The first match of the ICL 20s Indian Championship, Season-2 featured the big match of defending champion Hyderabad Heroes take on the formidable Lahore Badshahs at the glittering LB Stadium here tonight.

Lahore Badshahs captain Inzamam, won the toss and elected to field, wanting to take first advantage of the fresh pitch. The Badshahs struck early getting the dangerous Abdul Razzaq in the second over, cheaply for 13 runs (7 balls). The experienced South paw Jimmy Maher took over the mantel of the innings and at the end of the fifth over took the Heroes' score to 40 /1. The prodigal Rayudu also got into the act showing some breathtaking strokes.

Maher and Rayudu looked in great touch doing the basics right, of running hard between the wickets and percentage stroke-play, working up a good partnership for the Heroes. At the half way mark of their innings Heroes, were placed comfortable at 75/1. Two big sixes of Saqlain's consecutive deliveries in the 12th over, from Hyderabad's favorite son Rayudu, saw the young quality-act get the first fifty of Indian Cricket League Season-2.

Rayudu was batting in the zone belting the experienced Badshahs bowlers all over the park. Inzamam brought on his premier pacer MD Sami in the 14th over who got the important breakthrough cutting short a brilliant Rayudu' innings of 58 runs off 42 balls, including five sixes and one four. Quick wickets of Maher and the dangerous Kemp took some steam off the Heroes' innings in the 17th over. The half way mark of the match saw the Heroes set the Badshahs a competitive target of 160 runs.

Earlier a spectacular opening ceremony was graced by K R Suresh Reddy, Assembly Speaker, former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu, Chairman Zee and Essel Group Subhash Chandra and Kapil Dev, Chairman, Executive Board, Indian Cricket League (ICL). Brief Scores: Hyderabad Heroes-- 159 (Rayudu 58, Maher 41, Rana Naved 2/32).

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