Hyderabad, Kerala gain two points each

Hyderabad, Oct 20 (UNI) Hosts Hyderabad and Kerala gained two points each from the second round matches in the South Zone Under-22 cricket tournament for F Ramachandra Rao trophy being played here today.

Hyderabad were all out for 242 in 115.3 overs and gained a crucial first innings lead of 48 runs over Tamil Nadu. Later, Tamil Nadu made 183 losing four wickets off 44 overs.

The match ended in a draw as both the captains agreed to stop the play ten minutes after tea as there was no possibility of forcing an outright win.

Hyderabad's overnight batsman Md Shakeer (70, 160 balls, 8x4) and Habeeb Ahmed (28, 81 balls, 1x4), M P Arjun (18) were out without adding any more runs to their scores. Naresh (4/88), Ashwin (4/84) and Thiagarajan (2/38) were the pick of the Tamil Nadu bowlers.

Later, Tamil Nadu raced to 183 losing four wickets. But they could not help the team to gain the lead. S.Anirudha's century (102, 140 minutes, 90 balls, 2x6, 8x4) came one innings late, as it were, as the team lost the first innings lead.

Kerala by virtue of their first innings lead of 136 runs, gained two points from the match against Andhra. Andhra were all out for 169 in their first innings in 102.1 overs.

Barring Shashavali (50, 233 balls, 4x4) and J.T.Yadav (49, 138 balls, 3x4, 1z6) no other batsman could come good.

For Kerala S Aneesh took 4 for 52 while Prasanth took 2 for 23. Kerala made 78 losing one wicket in 31 overs in the second innings. Abhishek Hegde made 51 n.o off 95 balls with nine fours.

After two days rest the third round of matches will be played from October 23.

Brief Scores: Tamil Nadu 194 and 183-4. Hyderabad 242.

Kerala 305 and 78-1 Andhra 169.

UNI XR/DB VV PDS VV2033