Vihari 263 denies HP quarter-final spot

Hanuma Vihari scored his second first-class double-hundred as Hyderabad denied Himachal Pradesh a quarter-final spot by taking a first-innings lead in the drawn game in Hyderabad. The result helped Andhra, who had secured seven points after an innings win over Goa on Sunday, seal their place in the quarter-finals with 29 points compared to HP's 28.

HP found early success on the final day as opener Tanmay Agarwal was dismissed without adding to his overnight score of 105 and Jaggulal Anshul fell in the next over. Debutant Himalay Agarwal too, did not last long, but Vihari soared to 263, his knock punctuated by 31 fours and two sixes. Vihari was well supported by Bavanaka Sandeep in a fifth-wicket partnership worth 175 runs. The stand, however, ended when part-time medium pacer Nikhil Gangta dismissed Vihari in the 179th over. Ashish Reddy then hung in with Sandeep to help Hyderabad snatch a first-innings lead.

With their place in the quarter-finals already secure, Assam played out a draw against Kerala in their last league game in Tellicherry.

Assam had taken a 78-run first-innings lead on the third day and began the final day on a poor note as Kunal Saikia perished to Basil Thampi without adding to his overnight score. Sibsankar Roy (13) and Gokul Sharma (1) were dismissed in successive overs, as the visitors stumbled to 54 for 3.

However, KB Arun Karthik's 62 off 150 balls helped stabilise the innings. He added 110 runs for the fourth wicket with opener Pallavkumar Das before the latter was dismissed by Karaparambil Monish for 72. Karthik became Monish's third victim, as the left-arm spinner finished with 3 for 51. Tarjinder Singh, who top-scored with 94 in the first innings, and Syed Mohammad remained unbeaten on 7 and 4 respectively.