Four run outs help Hyderabad take 1st innings lead

Hyderabad gained a vital first Innings lead of 54 runs after effecting four crucial run outs on day two of the three-day match for the V Pattabhiram Trophy of the South Zone Under-16 match between hosts Hyderabad and Karnataka at the Gymkhana Grounds in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

The run out epidemic began in the second over of the day when overnight batsman Devraj Patil was sent back to the dressing room following a brilliant piece of fielding and throw By Anoop Pai from backward point triggering the collapse at the top order.

A minor repair job was performed by the third wicket pair of opener Abhinav Kumar and skipper Deepak Chowgule. They consumed 80 minutes of batting time in compiling 33 runs in 16.1 overs when Abhinav Kumar was lbw to Vishwanath. Twenty minutes later, Deepak Chowgule who was stroking the ball with good timing and seemed set to take Karnataka out of trouble, was also run out because of smart work in the field by Suman. The batsman made 26 off 71 deliveries in a stay of 102 minutes, hitting three fours.

The task of giving solidity to the Karnataka Innings fell on the son of former Indian all-rounder Roger Binny. Stuart Binny along with Hari Haran took the score at lunch to 69 for 4 wickets off 41 overs.

Eighteen minutes after resumption, Hari Haran was caught by Rayudu of off-spinner Nalin Reddy for 13. He added 23 runs for the fifth wicket with Binny. Despite Karnataka being 75 for five, Binny stroked the ball well and punished the erring deliveries. He was however, caught by Nalin off Rayudu for 32 scored off 92 balls. He hit five fours.

Next to go was Gopalan Bharadwaj. In trying to drive Sanjay Singh he edged the ball to wicket keeper Abhinav. Karnataka at this stage were 118 for 7 wickets off 66.4 overs. Udit Patel and Nikhil Hedge raised some hopes of surpassing Hyderbad's total of 227 but a brilliant fielding effort from Samiullah ran Udit Patel out. The two had added 26 runs for the eighth wicket from 18.4 overs. Then Nikhil Hedge and Karnataka's bowling hero Dharmi Chand added a quick 28 runs for the ninth wicket before the latter was bowled by Alfred for 10. Off the last ball of the day, Nikhil Hegde was run out, a direct throw from cover-point by Imran Khan doing the trick. Karnataka were all out for 173 runs. Alfred (2/27) and Nalin Reddy (2/46) and of course the four run outs hastened the end of the innings.