Sport - Cricket

Fallah, Watekar do well

Nashik: Samad Fallah and Hemal Watekar were stand-out performers at the old golf course ground here on Monday. While Maharashtra left-arm seamer Fallah (five for 65) rocked Andhra, Watekar calmed the nerves of an anxious Andhra dressing room with a splendid 142 (268b, 22x4), his third century in the Ranji Trophy.

Thanks to Fallah’s three-wicket strike in a space of 13 balls with the second new ball claimed in the 85th over, Maharashtra returned to the pavilion in a chirpy mood having managed to bring down Andhra from 246 for three to 262 for six wickets on the opening day of the super league match. Andhra suffered heavily in the last half an hour with both Watekar and A.K.S. Verma falling to the crafty left-armer.

Fallah struck the first blow off the last ball of his second over by removing L.N.P. Reddy and at the stroke of the first drinks interval trapped Gnaneswara Rao plumb in front.

Andhra’s third wicket pair of Watekar and Bodapati Sumanth efficiently repaired the early damage and dominated the bowling with a flurry of front-foot shots. Sumanth was in control firmly driving Harshad Khadiwale for three fours in an over.

Andhra had advanced positively from 130 for three to 246 when Maharashtra took the second new ball and staged a fine comeback with Fallah getting rid of Verma, Watekar and D. Kalyankrishna.

The scores: Andhra — 1st Innings: H. Watekar c Motwani b Fallah 142, L.N.P. Reddy c Motwani b Fallah 0, Gnaneswara Rao lbw b Fallah 16, B. Sumanth (run out) 45, A.S.K. Varma lbw b Fallah 45, A.G. Pradeep (batting) 4, D. Kalyankrishna c Motwani b Fallah 0, M. Suresh (batting) 2; Extras (lb-5, nb-3) 8. Total (for six wkts. in 90 overs): 262.

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-39, 3-130, 4-246, 5-259, 6-259.

Maharashtra bowling: Fallah 23-4-65-5, Dole 23-10-47-0, Haque 27-6-75-0, Waghmare 8-0-37-0, Khadiwale 2-0-13-0, Paradkar 7-1-20-0.

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