Ranji Trophy: Prasanth hits ton as Andhra dominates Tripura

Andhra's D.B. Prasanth duly gave shape to his resolve in a chanceless endeavour (120 not out), registering his second century this season and the eighth of his career.

A file photo of Andhra's D.B. Prasanth Kumar in action.

An Indian Navy team that had a few Ranji cricketers ran into rough weather in the form of a 14-year-old who refused to be intimidated by the seasoned hands.

A few years later, Dara Bengimen Prasanth Kumar arrived in Chandigarh to play Punjab when he got word of his dad’s demise. He returned to his native Anantapur and performed the last rites. He was back in Patiala to post a fighting 33 with Andhra skittled out for 80 on a rank turner, recalled Yachendra Satya Prasad, Chairman of Andhra’s Ranji selection committee.

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Day one of the Ranji Trophy Group C match against Tripura belonged to to the Andhra opener. At the Maharaja Bir Bikram University Stadium on Thursday, the 25-year-old who departed early in both innings during the touring side’s eight wicket win against MP last week was determined on a big score this time.

Prasanth duly gave shape to his resolve in a chanceless endeavour (120 not out), registering his second century this season and the eighth of his career. Emerging from the shadow of skipper Hanuma Vihari (62, 9 x 4), the soft-spoken lad turned the spotlight on himself, cuts and drives through and behind square mostly bringing in 16 boundaries.

READ: How the first day's play in other Ranji games panned out

Tripura invited the visitor to bat and should have regretted the move. But for the dismissal of K.S. Bharat caught by first slip Udiyan Bose off Murasingh, the home side made no further inroads till lunch.

Its four-pronged pace attack supplemented by Gurinder Singh’s left-arm orthodox spin made little impact on the second wicket pair of Prasanth and Vihari, the duo adding 108.

Post lunch, the host fared marginally better.Persistence with Gurinder from the far end paid off presently. Vihari’s loft against the southpaw’s finger spin went straight to his counterpart Murasingh at mid-on. After his captain’s exit, Prasanth dominated the strike through sessions two and three.

Into the nineties after tea, an elegant off-driven boundary off Rana Dutta took him closer to three figures. The climb to the landmark took a while though but not necessarily out of nervousness, runs trickling in through singles till he flicked Gurinder to short fine leg and scampered for two.  

When stumps were drawn, Ricky Bhui was on 49 and Prashanth on 120.