The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Hyderabad optimistic

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Friday, Nov 23, 2007
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Hyderabad optimistic

Principal Correspondent

HYDERABAD: The ‘young brigade’ of Hyderabad is ready for the big challenge of facing the Pathan brothers — Irfan and Yousuf — when Hyderabad takes on Baroda in the Ranji Trophy Super League match at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium (Uppal) here on Thursday.

Coach Kanwaljit Singh, pleased with the way Hyderabad recovered to force a draw against Bengal in the first match and snatched the lead against Punjab, is optimistic of a much better performance against Baroda.

The fact that Hyderabad will be playing in familiar conditions at home should help its cause on a pitch which looks perfect for batting.

With three century-makers in the first two matches — Anoop Pai against Bengal, and Daniel Manohar and D.B. Ravi Teja against Punjab — the Hyderabad camp is pleased with the way the top order has run into form.

Amol Shinde too had come up with a crucial knock.

“We will surely give them a tough fight. The boys are not awed by the star cricketers in the Baroda team. Instead, they are taking on the visitors like any other quality opposition at this level,” Kanwaljit said.

Looking to the spinners

The spinners — left-armers Pragyan Ojha and Lalith Mohan, and off-spinner Shinde — as well as medium-pacer Ashwin Yadav are expected to provide the breakthroughs.

Baroda, fresh from its outright win against Bengal and despite the retirement of star batsman Jacob Martin, is keen to continue the good work.

The teams (from):

Hyderabad: N. Arjun Yadav (Capt.), D.B. Ravi Teja, S. Daniel Manohar, S. Anoop Pai, Amol Shinde, P. Pragyan Ojha, Habeeb Ahmed, S.M. Shoaib, Ashwin Yadav, M.P. Arjun, A. Lalith Mohan, Mohd. Shakeer, Danny Derek Prince, Vishal Sharma and Mohd. Khader; Coaches: Vivek Jaisimha and Kanwaljit Singh.

Baroda: Connor Williams (Capt.), Pinal Shah, Satyajit Parab, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Rajesh Pawar, Rakesh Solanki, Abhimanyu Chavan, Sankalp Vora, Sunit Singh, Ketan Panchal, Hamid Ali, Miteen Shah, Azhar Vilakhia and S. Gaekwad; Coach: Paras Mhambrey.

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