There were no wild celebrations as has been the case right through this season by the Hyderabad cricketers. And, it was like a routine walk back to the dressing room by Chandan Sahani after he swung slow blower Aryan Bora over mid-on for a six to clinch a five-wicket win for Hyderabad against Meghalaya on the fourth day of the Ranji Trophy Plate Group final at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Tuesday.
May be an acknowledgement that they were just out of place in the Plate Group and badly needed to be back in the Elite Group.
Resuming at the overnight score of 71 for one and needing 198 to win, Hyderabad was rarely in a spot of bother with southpaw G.Rahul Singh (62, 40b, 8×4, 2×6) in a hurry not just to finish off the match but also try to reach the three-figure mark, which he has done thrice this season. But he should be dejected for pulling one from pacer Chengkam Sangma straight to the fielder in the deep in the 12th over of the morning.
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This saw the classy captain Tilak Varma (64, 50b, 6×4, 2×6) and the gritty Rohit Rayudu (34, 61b, 1×4, 2×6) come together to put on 82 runs to dash whatever hopes Meghalaya could have hoped for.
Tilak, looking good for another century this season, was caught at slip off a leading edge by Meghalaya captain Kishan Lyngdoh off Raj Biswa with just seven runs needed for a win.
Soon, even Rohit Rayudu stepped out to loft only to give a leading edge to backward short-leg fielder Jaskirant off left-arm spinner Aryan Bora with still four needed for the victory.
Even today, both Tilak and Rohit were involved in a couple of heated exchanges with the Meghalaya players forcing the umpires to intervene.
But, for those two gifted wickets, Meghalaya’s bowling was pretty ordinary this morning.
For the record, both Hyderabad and Meghalaya made it to the Elite Group for next season by entering the final.
Hyderabad Cricket Association President A. Jagan Mohan Rao who gave away the prizes alongwith the Meghalaya Cricket Association officials, announced a cash incentive of Rs 10 lakhs for the Hyderabad team which one the Ranji Trophy Plate Group championship final.
He also announced Rs 50,000 each to ‘player of the final’ Nitesh Reddy, left-arm spinner Tanay Thyagarajan for his 10-wicket haul in the match, wicketkeeper batter Pragnay Reddy for his century, captain Tilak Varma.
Jagan Mohan also announced that if Hyderabad wins the Ranji Trophy championship in the Elite Group Rs 1 crore would be presented to the team and one BMW car to each of the winning team member.
The scores:
Meghalaya – 1st innings: 304
Hyderabad – 1st innings: 350
Meghalaya – 2nd innings: 243
Hyderabad – 2nd innings: Tanmay Agarwal b Chengkam 0, G. Rahul Singh c Akash b Chengkam 62, Tanay Thyagarajan c Bonchang b Chengkam 26, Tilak Varma c Kishan b Biswa 64, K. Rohit Rayudu c Jaskirat b Aryan 34, K. Nitesh Reddy not out 3, Chandan Sahani not out 8.
Extras: (b-5, lb-1) 6
Total: (for five wickets in 34.2 overs) 203
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-88, 3-109, 4-191, 5-193
Meghalaya bowling: Chengkam 7-0-47-3, Akash Kumar 9-0-52-0, Dippu 5-0-16-0, Aryan 2.2-0-13-1, Swarajeet 1-0-4-0, Biswa 7-0-49-1, Jaskirat 3-0-16-0.
Result: Hyderabad won by five wickets.
