Date:11/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/11/stories/2008111161941800.htm

Sport - Cricket

Anoop props up Hyderabad

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: An unbeaten 102 by S. Anoop Pai helped Hyderabad post 247 for five at the close of the first day’s play in the Ranji Trophy Super League match against Delhi at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Uppal on Monday.

The 24-year-old Anoop chalked up his second Ranji hundred. He played a patient and gritty knock determination and eschewed all risks, getting behind the line of every ball. It was an excellent approach and it came at a time when Hyderabad was losing wickets at regular intervals.

Anoop’s innings and his 134-run stand for the fifth wicket with Abhinav Kumar (76, 186b, 9x4) helped the team reach a reasonably good position.

In the morning Delhi got an early breakthrough when Pradeep Sangwan bowled Ravi Teja for a duck in the second over of the day. It was a major disappointment for Hyderabad since the prolific Ravi Teja was expected to come up with a big knock.

Then in the seventh over T. Suman was bowled by Ashish Nehra. Later, when Rushi Raj was caught at second slip by Aakash Chopra off Sangwan and Arjun Yadav perished cheaply, it seemed like Delhi was gaining the upper hand.

Able partner

However, Anoop found an able partner in Abhinav Kumar, and the two of them stemmed the rot with a sensible approach. The partnership was broken late in the day (85th over) when Abhinav was trapped leg-before by Rajat Bhatia.

Anoop remained unbeaten on 102 with eleven hits to the fence. A lot will now depend upon him to carry his team’s cause further.

Delhi had a minor setback when Nehra pulled a hamstring and had to stop bowling. But it was learnt later that the injury was not serious and he is likely to resume bowling on Tuesday.

The scores:

Hyderabad — 1st innings: T. Suman b Nehra 15, Ravi Teja b Sangwan 0, Rushi Raj c A. Chopra b Sangwan 28, Anoop Pai (batting) 102, Arjun Yadav c Bisht b Awana 9, Abhinav Kumar lbw b Bhatia 76, M.P. Arjun (batting) 0; Extras (b-4, lb-2, w-4, nb-7): 17; Total (for five wkts. in 90 overs): 247.

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-20, 3-85, 4-104, 5-238.

Delhi bowling: Nehra 7.2-2-13-1, Sangwan 18-1-73-2, Awana 16-2-56-1, Bhatia 19-4-42-1, Nanda 26.4-8-44-0, Chopra 3-0-13-0.