RVC Prasad shores up sagging Andhra

A gallant 95 from RVC Prasad helped Andhra settle at 243/8 on the first day of their opening Ranji Trophy South Zone clash against Kerala at Vijayawada today. Home team captain Amit Pathak won the toss and chose to take first strike against Kerala's three pronged seam attack of Renjith Menon, Tinu Yohanan and Sunil Oasis.

Oasis struck a double blow in the 11th over of the day, taking out opener LNP Reddy and then two balls later removing the baby of the team, 16-year-old Y Gnaneswara Rao, who was making his first class debut. Another teenager, Y Venugopala Rao fell shortly afterwards to leave Andhra at 48/3.

Pathak and Prasad added 87 for the fourth wicket in just over 35 overs before the former fell to the wiles of his opposite number, leg spinner KN Ananthapadmanabhan for 58. Prasad was involved in another useful association of 68 with KST Sai but from 203/4, Andhra lost four wickets for 28. The hosts suffered a major blow just before stumps when Prasad gave a return catch to Ananthapadmanabhan for 95 (209 balls, 9 fours). Yohanan, yet to take a first class wicket prior to this game, was the most successful bowler with 3/78.