Ranji Trophy 2022-23: Rayudu’s 153 keeps Hyderabad in command despite 50s from Dhull, Badoni

Ayush Badoni’S 78 and Yash Dhull’s 72, which included a quickfire 39-run stand in less than four overs kept Delhi comfortably over the 200-run mark at stumps on Day 2.

K. Rohit Rayudu stood apart from the rest of the crowd with a classy unbeaten 153 to help Hyderabad post a far more respectable 355 in the first innings. | Photo Credit: V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM / The Hindu

Ayush Badoni compiled a stroke-filled unbeaten 78 (85b, 11x4, 2x6), after his captain Yash Dhull scored a brilliant half-century (72, 74b, 16x4), to keep Delhi hopes of taking the first innings lead alive against Hyderabad on the second day of the four-day Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Wednesday.

First, it was Yash Dhull who treated the Hyderabad bowlers with disdain, essaying some glorious cover drives and in the ‘V’ with a blend of arrogance and elegance.

When he was at the crease in the company of his opener Dhruv Shorey (30, 44b, 6x4), the bowling looked clueless even as the normally consistent pacer Kartikeya Kak, who was hit for fours in one over by Dhull, struggled and the debutant pacer Praneeth Raj looked ordinary, pitching short on off-stump repeatedly and was also warned for running on to the danger area by the umpires.

Just when it looked Delhi was in a hurry to go after the first objective of taking the lead, medium-pacer Ajay Dev Goud cleaned up Shorey with a change of pace and movement.

 Ajay Dev Goud celebrates after dismissing Himmat Singh without evern allowing him to open his account. | Photo Credit: V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM / The Hindu

Then, the expensive left-arm spinner G. Aniketh Reddy got rid off Hrithik Shokeen (4), caught behind by Rahul Radesh to make it 96 for two in 19.1 overs.

Later, Dhull and Ayush Badoni joined hands to put on 39 runs in less than four overs before Aniketh seemed lucky to earn a caught-behind decision to send back the dangerous looking Dhull.

Then, a suicidal run-out by Vaibhav Rawal (20) in the 39th over opened the window of opportunity for Hyderabad and when Ajay Dev got rid off Himmat Singh (0), who misread the movement the first ball he faced as it came back sharply to rearrange the stumps, Delhi was in trouble at 192 for five.

However, a fighting 31-run stand between Badoni and an extremely uncomfortable Lalit Yadav ensured that there were no more setbacks for Delhi before stumps.

Earlier, K. Rohit Rayudu stood apart from the rest of the crowd with a classy unbeaten 153 (295b, 14x4, 3x6) to help Hyderabad post a far more respectable 355 in the first innings.

The scores:

Hyderabad - 1st innings:

Tanmay Agarwal c Himmat b Vijayran 23, Rahul Radesh c Rawat b Mehra 41, K. Rohit Rayudu not out 153, K. Nitesh Reddy c Rawat b Mehra 0, Chandan Sahani c Dhull b Shokeen 67, T. Santosh Goud lbw b Mehra 10, Shashank Lokesh lbw b Rana 17, Ajay Dev Goud c Rawat b Vijayran 10, G. Aniketh Reddy c Lalit b Shokeen 8, Kartikeya Kak c Badoni b Rana 1, S. Praneeth Raj lbw b Rana 0.

Extras: (b-9, lb-11, nb-4, w-1) 25

Total: (all out in 124 overs) 355

Fall of wickets: 1-55, 2-90, 3-90, 4-222, 5-248, 6-292, 7-308, 8-319, 9-330, 10-355

Delhi bowling: Rana 26-5-63-3, Mehra 24-7-45-3, Vijayran 26-6-74-2, Shokeen 30-4-101-2, Lalit 14-1-45-0, Badoni 4-1-7-0.

Delhi - 1st innings:

Yash Dull c Radesh b Aniketh 72, Dhruv Shorey b Ajay Dev 30, Hrithik Shokeen c Radesh b Aniketh 4, Ayush Badoni batting 78, Vaibhav Rawal run out (Lokesh) 20, Himmat Singh b Ajay Dev 0, Lalit Yadav batting 7.

Extras: (b-7, lb-5) 12

Total: (for five wkts in 50 overs) 223

Fall of wickets: 1-83, 2-96 3-135, 4-192, 5-192.

Hyderabad bowling: Kak 13-3-47-0, Praneeth 10-0-45-0, Ajay Dev 11-3-42-2, Aniketh 16-1-77-2.