Andhra gain 2 pts against Vadodara with Shahbuddin's 6-wicket hauL

Vadodara, Dec 20 (UNI) Fiery pace bowling by K S Shahbuddin (6/80) and debutant P Vijay Kumar (2-43) enabled Andhra to make a dramatic recovery to take a slender 17-run first innings lead and pick up two points against hosts Vadodara on the final day of their four-day Super League Ranji Trophy Group 'A' match played here today.

Replying to Andhra's 342, Vadodara who resumed their first innings with the overnight score of 262 for 3, failed to withstand the onslaught of Shahbuddin and Vijay Kumar and folded up their innings at 325, about 15 minutes ahead of lunch break.

When the match was called off in the third and final session of the day, the visitors were 129 for the loss of 2 wickets with two fine half centuries by M S K Prasad (not out 61, 7x4, 1x6) and L N Prasad Reddy (56, 7x4).

Having gained two points from this drawn match, Andhra took their points tally to 10 from four outings, while Vadodara remained at 9.

Vadodara, who required only 81 runs with seven wickets in hand to take the most vital first innings lead against their opponents, resumed today in a chaotic manner. After Rakesh Solanki was run out for 113 adding only 9 runs to his overnight score of 104 during the first 20 minutes of play, Vadodara batting line up caved in like a pack of cards.

Barring Yusuf Pathan, who hit 26 off 47 balls, none of the Vadodara batsmen could put up any resistance to the fiery pace attack of Shahbuddin and Vijay Kumar as the side crashed to 325 losing the remaining seven wickets for just 63 runs in the pre-lunch session.

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