Vijay Hazare Trophy: Rohit Rayudu’s 126 ensures 66-run win for Hyderabad

Put in to bat, Hyderabad seized the huge opportunity in perfect batting conditions as opener Rayudu and his captain Akshath Reddy (75, 73b, 8 x 4, 1 x 6) put on 139 runs for the first wicket in 24.3 overs.

Akshath Reddy scored a composed 75.

Rohit Rayudu’s brilliant century (126, 135b, 8 x 4, 3 x 6) helped Hyderabad notch up its second convincing win in-a-row when it defeated Jharkhand by 66 runs in the Group D second round match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-day cricket tournament at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Tuesday.

Put in to bat, Hyderabad seized the huge opportunity in perfect batting conditions as opener Rayudu and his captain Akshath Reddy (75, 73b, 8 x 4, 1 x 6) put on 139 runs for the first wicket in 24.3 overs.

Though Akshath, looked good for his second consecutive century in this edition, he failed to resist the temptation to go for an ambitious pull stroke only to find the fielder in the deep off Virat Singh.

Then, southpaw B. Sandeep joined the well-set Rayudu and the two put on 105 for the second wicket which effectively pushed Jharkhand into a defensive mode.

Sandeep (69, 45b, 10 x 4) was fluent in his strokeplay right through his knock before he too perished going for the big shot - caught in the deep off left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem in the 38th over at 245 for two.

In reply, Jharkhand’s chase was off to dismal start with pacer Ravi Kiran dismissing opener Md. Nazim Siddiqui (0) in the first over.

There was some hope when Ishan Kishan (51, 65b, 4 x 4, 1 x 6) was batting well at the top but soon international Mohd Siraj struck with his speed and accuracy.

The ball with which Siraj squared up Virat Singh (14) and forced him to snick to wicketkeeper and then cleaned up Kumar Deobrat (29) with a beauty which swung late were a sight to watch for the handful of spectators.

Later, pacer Ravi Teja struck the big blow forcing the dangerous looking Saurabh Tiwari (49, 46b, 2 x 4, 2 x 6) to go for the slog only to edge to wicketkeeper K. Sumanth and then left-arm spinner Mehdi Hasan earned two lbw verdicts in quick succession to ensure the home team emerged winner despite some lusty hitting by Atul Singh Surwar (58 not out, 55 b, 7 x 4) in the end.

The scores: Group D: Hyderabad 333 for seven in 50 overs (Rohit Rayudu 126, Akshath Reddy 75, B. Sandfeep 69) bt Jharkhand 267 in 46.5 overs (Ishan Kishan 51, Saurabh Tiwary 49, Atul Singh Surwar (58 not out).

Vidarbha 245 in 48.2 overs (J.M. Sharma 41, Ganesh Satish 94, Umar Nazar three for 41) bt J & K 172 in 38.4 overs (Bandeep Singh 53, Ram Dayal 55, S.B. Wagh three for 26).

Services 219 in 44.5 overs (Nakul Verma 42, G. Rahul Singh 91, Md. Shahnawaz six for 44) lost to Chattisgarh 221 for six in 48.4 overs (Shashank Chandrakar 70, A.N. Khare 44, Sahban Khan 52 not out).

Wednesday is a rest day.

Brief scores

Hyderabad 333 for 7 in 50 overs (Rohit Rayudu 126, Akshath Reddy 75; Rahul Shukla 2 for 69) beat Jharkhand 276 in 46.5 overs (Ishan Kishan 51, Atul Singh Surwar 58; Ravi Kiran 2 for 41) by 66 runs.