Anirudh props up Hyderabad on opening day

Hyderabad put up with a spirited Goa attack on the opening day of their South Zone Ranji Trophy match at the Nuclear Fuel ground in Hyderabad on Wednesday. At stumps the hosts were 247 for 7 with middle order bat Anirudh Singh with a patient 89, providing the backbone of the innings.

Opting to bat, Hyderabad were pegged on the backfoot with opener Daniel Manohar (2) departing to a catch by Bhagwat off Aware in the ninth over of the innings. This paved the way for the entry of Anirudh to join his skipper Nandakishore (33). But the Hyderabad skipper did not last long after he was joined by Anirudh. He was caught by Sathyajit Medappa off N Naik. Vanka Pratap (17) along with Anirudh took the score to 80. Pratap then fell leg before to Barde in the 31st over. Vinay Kumar (6) lasted for just 20 balls before Aware shattered his stumps.

P Satwalkar (14) then stuck around for nearly an hour and in the company of Anirudh took the score to 127. Then stumper M Srinivas (26) joined Anirudh and the two put their heads down to add a sedate 58 runs for the sixth wicket. After the fall of Srinivas, Anirudh found able support from JS Yadav to ensure that Hyderabad crossed 200.

After waging a lone battle for 288 minutes, Anirudh fell late in the day, caught by Tanveer Jabbar off Aware. Yadav (39 not out) and Mohd Ghouse (4 not out) ensured no further casualties for the hosts. Avinash Aware was the pick of the Goa bowlers with figures of 3 for 56 from his 25 overs.