Hyderabad press for outright victory

Chasing a target of 380 in the fourth innings, Goa were 26/1 at stumps on the third day of their Ranji Trophy South Zone clash against Hyderabad at the Nuclear Fuel Complex ground in Hyderabad. Earlier the hosts declared their second knock at 239/8 thanks to half centuries from Daniel Manohar and Vanka Pratap.

In the morning Goa added just a solitary run to their overnight score of 174/9 before succumbing in the third over of the day and conceding a 140 run first innings deficit. Venkatapathy Raju took his innings tally to 5/16 with the last scalp.

Hyderabad openers Daniel Manohar and Nanda Kishore gave a solid foundation at the top of the order with a 65 run stand inside 15 overs. The Goan attack intervened by capturing two quick wickets before Manohar found another able ally in Vanka Pratap with whom he built a 60 run fourth wicket stand.

Manohar finally fell for 82 (131 balls, 6 fours) and although Sayyad Khalid effected a middle order slump by taking four of the next five wickets, Pratap guided Hyderabad safely through to the declaration five minutes after tea. He remained undefeated on 77 (118 balls, 7 fours).