Ranji Trophy | Radesh’s patient knock takes Hyderabad to 435 in first innings

Puducherry: Hyderabad had its moments of recklessness but exhibited patience to a greater degree as it posted 435 in its first innings against Pondicherry in a Ranji Trophy Elite Group-D encounter at the CAP Ground 2 here on a cloudy Sunday.

In response, Pondicherry lost opener Paras Ratnaparkhe early before bad light stopped play prematurely again.

Hyderabad’s wicketkeeper-batter Rahul Radesh epitomised grit as he steered the visitor to safety with an 81-run knock. He struck a vital 65-run alliance for the sixth wicket with fellow southpaw Rohit Rayudu and clung on till the end with the tail.

Radesh and Rohit negated the spin threat of Sagar Udeshi and Jayant Yadav, who had combined to pick four wickets for 27 runs within the first hour. The Hyderabad duo employed the sweep and forward press during 88 balls of relentless spin bowling, which yielded 30 runs.

Rohit took 11 deliveries to get off the mark before breaking loose with a six down the ground off Jayant. He repeated the dose after lunch but lost his off-stump to medium-pacer Puneet Datey soon after.

Meanwhile, Radesh grew in confidence and mastered the no-look paddle as well as the conventional late cut.

Seven of his 10 boundaries came on either side behind square, adding to the spinners’ frustration.

However, it was a damp beginning to the day for Hyderabad after a wet outfield delayed the start by 45 minutes.

Centurion Rahul Singh was caught trying to clear the midwicket boundary off the first ball he faced.

The skipper’s overnight partner, K. Himateja, and Varun Goud were trapped in front playing Udeshi off the back foot.

Tanmay Agarwal returned to notch up his fifty after retiring hurt on Saturday, but was sent back by Mohit Kale’s stunning one-handed catch at cover.

But once Radesh and Rohit joined forces, Pondicherry didn’t have much to celebrate.

The scores: Hyderabad — 1st innings: Tanmay Agarwal c Kale b Jayant 50, Abhirath Reddy b Udeshi 35, Rahul Singh c Bais b Udeshi 114, K. Himateja lbw b Udeshi 66; Varun Goud lbw b Udeshi 0, Rahul Radesh c Aman b Jayant 81, Rohit Rayudu b Datey 34, Chama Milind b Kannan 4, Tanay Thyagarajan b Kannan 14, G. Anikethreddy c Jayant b Ratnaparkhe 18, B. Punnaiah (not out) 0; Extras: (b-4, lb-11, nb-4): 19; Total (in 134.5 overs): 435.

Fall of wickets: 1-88, 2-256, 3-273, 4-273, 5-283, 6-348, 7-353, 8-377, 9-421.

Pondicherry bowling: Datey 17-1-69-1, Udeshi 39-8-110-4, Aman 9-0-44-0, Jayant 41.5-8-114-2, Kannan 23-2-66-2, Kargave 3-0-7-0, Ratnaparkhe 2-0-10-1.

Pondicherry — 1st innings: Ganga Sridhar Raju (batting) 6, Paras Ratnaparkhe c Himateja b Punnaiah 5, Anand Singh Bais (batting) 14; Total (for one wkt. in nine overs): 25.

Fall of wicket: 1-7.

Hyderabad bowling: Anikethreddy 3-1-6-0, Milind 3-1-4-0, Punnaiah 1-0-4-1, Thyagarajan 1-0-4-0, Rayudu 1-0-7-0.