Ranji Trophy 2018-19: Rohera, Avesh help Madhya Pradesh thump Hyderabad

Ajay Rohera plays an unbeaten knock of 267 and Avesh Khan claims a five-for as Madhya Pradesh drubs Hyderabad by an innings and 253 runs in a Ranji Trophy fixture in Indore.

Avesh Khan kisses the turf after cleaning up Mohammad Mudassir at Holkar Stadium in Indore on Saturday.

It was a truly symbolic gesture when Avesh Khan bent low to kiss the turf to celebrate a stunning, 12-wicket haul. For, he was one of the architects as Madhya Pradesh drubbed Hyderabad by an innings and 253 runs on the third day of the Ranji Trophy Group B league match at Holkar Stadium here on Saturday.

On a day which was earlier made memorable for the home team with Ajay Rohera becoming the highest individual scorer on Ranji debut – scoring an unbeaten 267 to beat the previous record of Mumbaikar Amol Muzumdar (260 against Haryana in 1993-94 season) – Avesh ensured that he was not far behind the limelight. He bowled with fire especially in the post-lunch session after dismissing Hyderabad captain Akshath Reddy (4) cheaply in the morning session.

Once spinner Shubham Sharma earned a dubious decision for an lbw against opener Tanmay Agarwal after the lunch break, Hyderabad never really recovered. For, soon Avesh had southpaw B. Sandeep caught down the leg-side by captain and wicketkeeper Naman Ojha and soon had Himalay Agarwal clueless to one that swung way back to have him completely baffled and the stumps re-arranged.

Though Rohit Rayudu struck form with a gritty half-century, it was too late to change the course of the match as Shubham Sharma and Avesh ensured there were no escape routes by scripting a resounding win.

Madhya Pradesh now has 18 points from five matches while Hyderabad has 12 from five games.

The scores

Hyderabad 1st innings: 124.

Madhya Pradesh 1st innings: Aryaman Birla b Thyagarajan 32, Ajay Rohera not out 267, Rajat Patidar c (sub) Chaitanya b Mudassir 51, Naman Ojha c Thyagarajan b Ravi Kiran 28, Shubham Sharma lbw b Ravi Kiran 13, Yash Dubey not out 139.

Extras: (nb-9, b-18, lb-5) 32.

Total: (for four wickets decl in 140.4 overs) 562.

Fall of wickets: 1-68, 2-181, 3-262, 4-278.

Bowling: Ravi Kiran 30-3-103-2, Mohammad Mudassir 22-3-114-1, Ravi Teja 24.4-1-103-0, Tanay Thyagarajan 33-4-110-1, Mehdi Hasan 25-1-75-0, Rohit Rayudu 2-0-14-0, Sandeep 2-0-10-0, Tanmay Agarwal 2-0-10-0.

Hyderabad 2nd innings: Tanmay Agarwal lbw b Shubham 24, P. Akshath Reddy c Ojha b Avesh 4, Rohit Rayudu c Gourav b Hirwani 72, B. Sandeep c Ojha b Avesh 4, Himalay Agarwal b Avesh 0, T. Ravi Teja c Rohera b Shubham 4, K. Sumanth b Kuldeep 23, Tanay Thyagarajan c Patidar b Gourav 12, Mehdi Hasan c Patidar b Avesh 25, Ravi Kiran not out 0, Mohammad Mudassir b Avesh 0.

Extras: (nb-7, b-4, lb-6) 17.

Total: (all out in 65.5 overes) 185.

Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-51, 3-58, 4-58, 5-63, 6-111, 7-145, 8-167, 9-185, 10-185.

Bowling: Avesh Khan 13.5-4-30-5, Kuldeep Sen 11-4-14-1, Gourav Yadav 13-3-42-1, Mihir Hirwani 15-1-59-1, Shubham Sharma 13-2-30-2.

Result: Madhya Pradesh won by innings and 253 runs.

Player of the match: Ajay Rohera.