Crucial strikes: Hyderabad captain Tilak Varma claimed three wickets with his off-spin.
| Photo Credit: V.V. Subrahmanyam
Hyderabad is back in the Elite Group of Ranji Trophy after drubbing Nagaland by an innings and 68 runs on the third day of the five-day Ranji Trophy Plate semifinal at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Sunday.
The two finalists — the other one being Meghalaya which scored an outright win over Mizoram in the other last-four clash — are assured of a place in the Elite Group next year.
It was once again a splendid performance by left-arm spinner Tanay Thyagarajan, who completed his maiden 10-wicket haul in Ranji Trophy (13 for 144), which was the major factor in Hyderabad’s impressive performance.
The 28-year-old Tanay sent back three batters — Yugandhar Singh, captain Rongsen Jonathan and R.S. Jaganath Srinivas — in quick session to reduce Nagaland to 23 for four in the 12th over.
Tanay consistently employed a teasing line and spun the ball away from the oppositon batters.
A fighting fifth-wicket partnership of 127 between Sedezhaile Rupero (59, 154, 8x41x6) and Sumit Kumar (86, 115b, 10×4, 2×6) gave Nagaland some hope. The two batted with discipline and even essayed some huge hits, with Sumit being the more belligerent, cracking two massive sixes and a four in one over off Tanay.
But Hyderabad captain Tilak Varma, with his off-spin, broke the partnership when he cleaned up Sedezhaile as he tried to cut one close to the stumps and later had the dangerous Sumit trapped in front, a decision which had the batter disappointed.
After these two big blows reduced Nagaland to 177 for seven in 54th over, the rest was a formality and Tanay was in a hurry to mop up the tail. He was ably supported by the close-in fielders, especially Tanmay Agarwal, who was brilliant.
The scores:
Hyderabad — 1st innings: 462 for eight decl. in 107 overs.
Nagaland — 1st innings: 206 in 60.1 overs.
Nagaland — 2nd innings: Yugandhar Singh lbw b Tanay 20, Joshua Ozukum run out 0, Sedezhalie Rupero b Tilak 59, Rongsen Jonathan c Nitesh b Tanay 0, R.S. Jaganath Srinivas c Tanmay b Tanay 0, Sumit Kumar lbw b Tilak 86, Moakumzuk Tzudir c Tanmay b Tanay 0, Imliwati Lemtur c Tanay b Tilak 15, Tahmeed Rahman b Tanay 7, Khrievitso Kense (not out) 0, Karan Tewatia c Tanmay b Tanay 0, Extras (b-1): 1; Total (in 58.3 overs): 188.
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-23, 3-23, 4-23, 5-150, 6-151, 7-177, 8-182, 9-188.
Hyderabad bowling: Ravi Teja 6-0-3-8-0, Tanay 26.3-6-81-6, Kartikeya 7-0-39-0, Saaketh 5.5-0-20-0, Sanketh 2-0-9-0, Tilak Varma 11.1-3-30-3.
Hyderabad won by an innings and 68 runs.