Anirudh Singh hundred gives Hyderabad plenty of cheer

Hyderabad Cricket Association, last year's runners-up, showed every inclination to go the same distance in this year's edition of the MRF-Buchi Babu invitation tournament as they ran up 353/7 in 94 overs against the New Zealand Cricket Academy colts at the Guru Nanak College Ground in Chennai today.

Opener Anirudh Singh contributed generously to that final figure with 143 as he and one-drop Arjun Yadav (70) constructed a 166- run stand in a little over 43 overs. The 27-year-old fast-medium bowler Kerry Walmsley who played two Test matches against Sri Lanka over five years ago (7 wickets at 49.14) bagged 4/77.

Hyderabad had only three of the side that lost to Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy final in April this year - A Nandakishore, Parth Satwalkar and Fiaz Ahmed. Nandakishore, skippering the side here, won the toss and hurried to a rapid 32 from 34 balls before Walmsley won a lbw shout.

This set the stage for the aforementioned partnership between Singh and Yadav that ended at 224 when the latter was caught by Central Districts wicketkeeper Martyn Sigley, captaining the side in the absence of Jacob Oram. Indeed NZCA also took the field without Hamish Marshall, century maker in their previous game against Tamil Nadu Districts. The bowler was leg spinner Aaron Redmond.

Singh followed him to the pavilion shortly after tea when Jeetan Patel had him caught by James Marshall, off the 202nd delivery he faced. Singh's knock was bejewelled with 20 fours and a six. The visitors scented an opening and proceeded to widen the orifice with the help of an obliging Hyderabad middle order. The next four wickets fell for 47 and Walmsley signed three of those marching orders. Off spinner Jogam Yadav and wicketkeeper Rohit Sabharwal were regaling the audience at stumps.