AP register 78-run win over Saurashtra

Rajkot, Dec 12 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh registered an emphatic 78-run victory over Saurashtra on the last day of the four-day super league Ranji encounter at Madhavrao Scindia cricket ground here today.

Chasing a target of 274 run, Saurashtra lost the plot from the beginning and bundled out for 195 runs.

This is the hosts second defeat in three outings.

Saurashtra strated their second innings at the overnight score of 127 for five, and were all out for 195 in the first sesson.

Experienced Sitanshu Kotak who was unbeaten on 57, could add only one run to his individual score before edging one to wicket keeper M S K Prasad off D K Krishna.

The only other notable contribution came from Rakesh Dhruve, who played some beautiful shots in his 36 runs, smashing seven fours before he was dismissed by D K Krishna.

Medium pacers -- D Kalyan Krishna and K S Shabuddin -- virtually broke the backbone of the Saurashtra's top order, as they snapped up three and two wickets respectively by conceding 47 and 48 runs.

Venu Gopal Rao and Md Faiq took two wickets each, giving away 30 and 32 runs respectively.

The hosts did not have decent season with the bat as they lost two points to Uttar Pradesh after conceding the first innings lead, while playing in Knapur in the opening match and in second match, they were defeated by Baroda here recently. Worse still, Saurashtra could not take advantage of home pitch and lost to Andhra Pradesh.

Now, Saurashtra will clash against Tamil Nadu here from December 17.

Brief Score: Andhra Pradesh lst Innings: 215 all out Saurashtra lst innings: 87 all out Andhra Pradesh 2nd Innings: 145 all out Saurashtra 2nd innings: 195 all out in 88 overs (K Vaghela 22, S Kotak 58, Rakesh Dhruve 36, K S Shabuddin 2 for 48, D Kalyan Krishna 3 for 47, Venu Gopal Rao 2 for 30 and Md Faiq 2 for 32).

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