Hyderabad held what looked like a winning hand: a bouncer that did its work, a sharp catch at slip and nine Punjab wickets in the bag. Salil Arora then held his nerve and Umesh Yadav offered a straight bat.
By the time the cards were turned, Salil recorded his highest First Class score (151, 268b, 11×4, 4×6) and Punjab finished on 431 in a Ranji Trophy clash at the Gymkhana Ground on Tuesday.
Hyderabad, anchored by Abhirath Reddy and Raul Radesh’s 259-ball 154-run stand, ended the day on 193 for two.
Earlier, the home side began with a flourish, courtesy C.V. Milind. Emanjot Singh fell first and Harjas Singh followed, undone by a bouncer. Harpreet Brar was then trapped leg-before and by the 45th minute into day two, Punjab was 315 for nine.
A century for Salil, batting on 73, looked a far cry when Umesh joined him. What followed was a last-wicket resistance.
Umesh dug in, content to defend, while Salil inched towards the 90s.
Then, Salil cut loose, launching the ball over long-off. That urgency nearly cost him, when a straight drive fell agonisingly short of Abhirath. Unfazed, He brought up his third consecutive century this season with a maximum over extra cover.
Umesh, playing second fiddle until then, smashed a six and two fours off Varun Goud, announcing a change of gears.
Salil went past 150 before Rakshann Readdi breached his defences to end the 154-ball 116-run stand heading into lunch. Umesh remained unbeaten on 37 (56b, 3×4, 3×6).
Hyderabad was pegged back before it could settle, Tanmay Agarwal’s flick flying straight to Jashanpreet Singh Sidhu at short-leg. Abhirath and Rahul, understandably, batted with some caution.
Their patient approach was rewarded with fifties: Abhirath getting to the milestone off 75 balls while Rahul got there in 105.
Abhirath, however, fell agonisingly short of a century when Salil produced a low, diving catch. By stumps, Hyderabad trailed Punjab by 238 runs.
The scores:
Punjab — 1st innings: Vihaan Malhotra c Ruthik b Rakshann 12, Harnoor Singh c Pragnay b Tanay 17, Prabhsimran Singh b Rakshann 81, Uday Saharan c Rahul b Aniketh 16, Jashanpreet Singh Sidhu run out 45, Salil Arora b Rakshann 151, Ramandeep Singh b Milind 52, Emanjot Singh c Himateja b Milind 9, Harjas Singh c Pragnay b Milind 0, Harpreet Brar lbw b Milind 2, Umesh Yadav (not out) 37; Extras (b-7, nb-1, w-1): 9; Total (in 124.5 overs): 431.
Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-62, 3-105, 4-139, 5-182, 6-275, 7-303, 8-309, 9-315.
Hyderabad bowling: Milind 20-3-79-4, Rakshann 20.5-1-80-3, Ruthik 6-1-18-0, Tanany 41-2-115-1, Aniketh 32-1-112-1, Varun 5-0-20-0.
Hyderabad — 1st innings: Tanmay Agarwal c Jashanpreet b Harpreet 2, Abhirath Reddy c Salil b Umesh 97, Rahul Radesh (batting) 72, K. Himateja (batting) 8; Extras (b-9, lb-5): 14; Total (for two wkts. in 54 overs): 193.
Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-169.
Punjab bowling: Umesh 12-3-29-1, Harpreet 18-2-59-1, Emanjot 15-0-53-0, Harjas 8-1-36-0, Uday 1-0-2-0.
Published – October 27, 2026 09:22 pm IST
