Hyderabad earn honourable draw
Hyderabad comfortably held Punjab to a draw on the final day of their Group B Ranji Trophy Super league match at the PCA stadium in Mohali on Tuesday, thanks in no small measure to `birthday boy' Md Azharuddin
08-Feb-2000
Hyderabad comfortably held Punjab to a draw on the final day of their
Group B Ranji Trophy Super league match at the PCA stadium in Mohali
on Tuesday, thanks in no small measure to `birthday boy' Md
Azharuddin. The former Indian captain, who turned 37 today, hit an
unbeaten 63 as Hyderabad, 246 runs in arrears on the first innings,
finished with 244 for three off 93 overs in their second
innings. Punjab got five points and Hyderabad three.
There was some pressure on Hyderabad as they resumed on the final
morning at 15 for no loss, given the fact that they had been shot out
for 117 in their first innings. But Hyderabad proved that the debacle
was only a minor aberration. Openers P Satwalkar (53) and A
Nandakishore (35) gave them a sound start putting on 89 runs off 31.5
overs. Satwalkar, the more aggressive of the two, batted 2-1/2 hours,
faced 103 balls and hit eight fours. The more obdurate Nandakishore
was second out at 115 after batting 194 minutes, facing 120 balls and
hitting five fours.
Building upon this good start, Md Azharuddin and Vinay Kumar added 104
runs for the third wicket off 34.3 overs. Vinay Kumar matched his more
accomplished partner in run production and by the time he was out for
67, compiled off 141 balls and inclusive of ten hits to the ropes, the
match was virtually saved. Azharuddin batted right through to the end
and for his unbeaten 63, he faced 153 balls and hit eight fours. MV
Sridhar who kept him company in the closing stages, faced 49 balls and
batted 50 minutes without opening his account. The Punjab captain
Vikram Rathour tried eight bowlers to no avail.