The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Hyderabad in danger of innings defeat

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Wednesday, Nov 07, 2007
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Hyderabad in danger of innings defeat

Special Correspondent

CRICKET / Amol Shinde plays the pivotal role; Laxman fails again

— PHOTO: SUSHANTA PATRONOBISH

GOOD KNOCK: Hyderabad’s Amol Shinde played sensibly against Bengal.

KOLKATA: Hyderabad was in trouble at the end of the penultimate day of the four-day Ranji Trophy Elite league match against Bengal at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday. Forced to follow-on after being 234 runs behind, Hyderabad ended the day at 86 for three needing 148 runs more to make Bengal bat again.

The fall of three wickets, including that of skipper V.V.S. Laxman for a paltry 18, would certainly have made the day for Bengal. Allowing Hyderabad’s first innings to progress from 65 for five to 227 all out in 67.1 overs, Bengal bowling did not exactly display its power on a pitch that began to ease out on the second day itself. True, the pitch lacked pace and bounce. But then Bengal bowling was wayward right from the first ball. Excepting for Shib Shankar Paul who tried his level best, others bowled poorly.

The Hyderabad lower-order made most of the opportunity. With Amol Shinde playing the pivotal role of a senior partner, first Habeeb Ahmed (23), then Pragyan Ojha (35) and S.M. Shoaib (12) were involved in small but very useful partnerships of 40 for the sixth wicket, 74 for the eighth wicket and 39 for the ninth wicket .

Best batsman

Shinde was the best batsman of the day. Apart from rotating the strike judiciously, he added 83 runs with ease.

“Having taken two wickets this morning, Bengal bowlers tried to finish off the innings as early as possible and tried to do too many things,” admitted coach B. Arun. Hyderabad was 179 for eight at lunch with Shinde scoring a fine half-century.

When Hyderabad batted for the second time, Bengal was forced to switch to spin when poor light compelled the pacers to make way for spinners. That proved to be the blessing in disguise.

Operating from the far end, Murtaza Lodhgar came up with a steady line and length and tasted success.

Daniel Manohar went for a big hit and was caught by Paul at mid-off for seven. Laxman joined the free-stroking Teja in the middle and looked determined to show his prowess. Teja fell in trying to lift Lodhgar over mid-off and was taken by Arindam Das for 47 . Lodhgar, bowling to a plan, kept tempting Laxman on the front-foot to drive with a short mid-wicket and a short cover fielder in position. Laxmanfell to the trap and his uppish on-drive over the vacant mid-wicket region was plucked out of the air by Lahiri.

Pai and Arjun Yadav were at the crease to fight the way out. With Shinde to come next, the middle-order would try and deny Bengal an outright victory. The scores: Bengal — 1st innings: 461.

Hyderabad — 1st innings: D. Manohar c Saha b Bose 8, R. Teja c Saha b Paul 39, V.V.S. Laxman c Saha b Paul 0, A. Pai b Lahiri 8, A. Yadav c Tiwary b Lodhgar 0, A. Shinde st. Saha b Lahiri 90, H. Ahmed b Lahiri 23, M.P. Arjun b Paul 0, P. Ojha b Tiwary 35, S.M. Shoaib lbw b Lahiri 12, L. Mohan (not out) 0, Extras (b-4, lb-2, nb-5, w-1) 12; Total (in 80.1 overs) 227.

Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-21, 3.54, 4-56, 5-56, 6-96, 7-99, 8-173, 9-212.

Bengal bowling: Bose 19-4-83-1, Paul 20-8-37-3, Lahiri 20.1-5-65-4, Lodhgar 11-3-13-1, Tiwary 9-2-23-1.

Hyderabad — 2nd innings: D. Manohar c Paul b Lodhgar 7, R. Teja c Das b Lodhgar 47, V.V.S. Laxman c Lahiri b Lodhgar 18, A. Pai (batting) 5, A. Yadav (batting) 5, Extras (lb-1, nb-3) 4; Total (for three wkts. in 32 overs) 86.

Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-71, 3-81.

Bengal bowling: Bose 7-2-26-0, Paul 5-1-12-0, Lahiri 5-0-20-0, Lodhgar 13-5-22-3, Tiwary 2-0-5-0.

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