Vijay Hazare: Pradeep’s unbeaten century guides Andhra to victory

Bhargav Bhatt and Swaroop picked up three wickets each, as Andhra pipped Goa by three runs in the group-C match of the Vijay Hazare trophy one-day tournament.

Pradeep of Andhra in action against Goa in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2017 league match at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

A.G. Pradeep scored an unbeaten 115 (111b, 7x4, 5x6), and Bhargav Bhatt and Swaroop picked up three wickets each, as Andhra pipped Goa by three runs in the group-C match of the Vijay Hazare trophy one-day tournament here. This is Goa's third straight defeat in as many games.

Chasing 229, Goa was off to a solid start as Swapnil Asnodkar (30, 42b, 2x4, 1x6) and Amogh Desai (26, 47b, 3x4) added 55 runs for the first wicket partnership in 14.3 overs.

Asnodkar, who was dropped off Siva Kumar by Chaitanya at point, was still the first to fall eventually, caught behind off P. Vijay Kumar. A six and a four, back-to-back, off Ayyappa Bandaru in the tenth over was the highlight of his innings. The six was off an inside-out shot over deep extra cover, and the four was off an upper cut.

Left-arm spinner Bhargav Bhatt picked up two wickets from there, as Goa slid to 92 for five in 27.4 overs. He bowled Amogh Desai, and had Suyash S. Prabhudessai leg before wicket. Bandaru had Darshan Misal leg before wicket too, in between.

Leg-spinner Swaroop Kumar got three wickets, and Bhargav struck once, from then on, but Snehal Kauthankar (83, 98b, 4x4, 2x6) held all along to take his team close to the target. After he was bowled, with 8 balls left, and 13 to get, Goa failed to manage a win.

Snehal's 52-run seventh wicket stand with Shadab Jakati was pivotal to Goa's chances.

Earlier, opting to bat, Andhra lost three early wickets - those of Srikar Bharat in the first over, Ravi Teja in the ninth over, and Hanuma Vihari in the fifteenth over.

A.G. Pradeep, who came in at no.5 then, scored the bulk of his team's runs, batting till the end. Naturally, he was involved in the best partnership of his team's innings - the 77-run fourth wicket stand with Ricky Bhui (41, 60b, 2x4, 1x6). The second best was the 36-run fifth wicket partnership between him and D.G.J. Chaitanya. Right-arm paceman Felix Alemao was the pick of the Goa bowlers with three for 42. Saurabh Bandekar picked up two for 48, while Shadab Jakati, Amogh Desai, and G.D. Narvekar claimed a wicket each.

Brief scores: Andhra 228 for nine in 50 overs (Ricky Bhui 41, A.G. Pradeep 115 n.o., Felix Alemao three for 42) bt Goa 225 in 50 overs (Amogh Desai 26, Swapnil Asnodkar 30, Snehal Kauthankar 83, Bhargav Bhatt three for 36, Swaroop three for 66)