Ranji Trophy 2024: Tilak Varma hits second consecutive century, Hyderabad hammers Sikkim by an innings and 198 runs

For the third consecutive match this season, Hyderabad showed its dominance in the Plate Group, wrapping up the issue within two days.

Hyderabad captain Tilak Varma (L) walks back after scoring an unbeaten century against Sikkim in the Ranji Trophy on Saturday. | Photo Credit: V V SUBRAHMANYAM

Captain Tilak Varma scored his second century in as many games this season, and the bowlers struck at regular intervals to help Hyderabad drub Sikkim by an innings and 198 runs on the second day of the four-day Ranji Trophy Plate Group League match at NexGen Cricket Academy Ground here on Saturday.

For the third consecutive match this season, Hyderabad showed its dominance in the Plate Group, wrapping up the issue within two days.

Ranji Trophy HIGHLIGHTS, Round 3 Day 2 stumps 

The defeat for Sikkim was delayed not because of any special performance by the batters but the declaration of the Hyderabad innings was delayed to help Tilak complete a deserving century, which he eventually did by lofting Palzor Tamang for a straight six.

Tilak (103 n.o., 111b, 8x4, 4x6), who was more subdued this morning, and the more aggressive Chandan Sahani (54, 56b, 6x4, 2x6) put up 88 runs for the fourth wicket which only pushed Sikkim completely on the defensive.

And, when Sikkim batted second time, the question was how better the batters would fare. But, they disappointed again once pacer Karthikeya Kak, the pick of the bowlers with the new ball, forced opener Pankaj Rawat (13) to snick to wicketkeeper Pragnay Reddy and soon sent back had the other main batter Ashish Thapa (0) in a similar fashion.

Off-spinner Saaketh bowled well to take two wickets and left-arm spinner Tanay Thyagarajan started off well with a double blow in the 32nd over to remove the dangerous Sumit Singh and Saurav Kumar Prasad.

But soon, Tanay turned out to be the most expensive bowler. In the spell before tea, he was hit for 10 fours and three sixes.

However, in the final session, it was Milind who broke the 57-run stand between Palzor (32, 65b, 5x4, 1x6) and Ankur Malik (34,, 23b,5x4, 2x6). The pacer struck two crucial blows to ensure that the issue was settled on the second day itself.

Brief Scores: Sikkim 79 all out in 27.4 overs & 186 in 48.3 overs (Sumit 34, CV Milind 3/14, T Thyagarajan 3/75) vs Hyderabad 463/4 in 78.1 overs (Tilak Varma 103, Rahul Gahlaut 83, Chanfdan Sahani 54) | Result: Hyderabad won by an innings and 198 Runs