The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Arjun Yadav scores hundred, saves Hyderabad

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Tuesday, Nov 27, 2007
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Arjun Yadav scores hundred, saves Hyderabad

Principal Correspondent

— Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

HARD DAY’S WORK: Arjun Yadav and Amol Shinde were instrumental in helping Hyderabad draw its match against Baroda.

HYDERABAD: It was the turn of Hyderabad captain N. Arjun Yadav to be the saviour. And he responded in style with a superbly-paced century and in the company of Amol Shinde helped Hyderabad force a creditable draw against Baroda on the final day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group match at Gymkhana Grounds here on Monday.

With 181 runs in arrears and nine wickets in hand to ward off a probable defeat, Hyderabad had its task cut out. For Baroda, India star Irfan Pathan provided the early breakthrough cleaning up S. Anoop Pai (16) early in the morning with a beauty of an inswinger.

In came Arjun and was lucky to see point fielder Azhar Bilakhia drop a simple catch when he slashed the first ball he faced from Irfan. But once he opened the account with a splendid straight six off off-spinner Yusuf Pathan, the Hyderabad skipper never looked back.

At the other end, D.B. Ravi Teja (54, 89 balls, 9x4) failed once again to convert a brilliant innings into a big total as he flicked one from Yusuf Pathan straight to Solanki at mid-wicket.

Then it was the turn of Arjun Yadav (101 not out, 207 balls, 15x4, 2x6) and Amol Shinde (57, 136 balls, 7x4) to stitch a fine 136-run stand for the third wicket which dashed whatever hopes Baroda entertained of pulling off an outright win.

Two phases

This was a partnership which was split into two phases — the first one of extreme caution to ensure that no wickets were lost with emphasis on staying put at the crease. Both Arjun Yadav and Shinde frustrated the designs of Baroda bowlers, particularly Irfan Pathan and Yusuf Pathan, with an admirable defensive approach. This was evident from the fact that just 67 runs were scored between lunch and tea in 27 overs.

But once Shinde departed in the first over after the tea, hitting Yusuf Pathan straight to mid-on, Arjun Yadav moved into top gear coming up with some special strokes. The way he walked down to loft Yusuf Pathan straight for another huge six and then laid back to essay delectable off-drives off Irfan Pathan and Sunit Singh, he seemed determined to prove a point or two to his critics. His second Ranji century of his career could not have come at a more appropriate time for his team.

And once Arjun Yadav completed the century in the third mandatory over with Hyderabad score reading 272 for four, play was called off after both the captains felt there was nothing left in the match to continue playing. Baroda picked up three points by virtue of the first innings lead and Hyderabad one for holding out for a draw.

The scores:

Hyderabad — 1st innings: 261

Baroda —1st innings: 476 for nine decl.

Hyderabad — 2nd innings: S. Daniel Manohar c P. Shah b I. Pathan 0, D.B. Ravi Teja c R. Solanki b Y. Pathan 54, S. Anoop Pai b I. Pathan 16, N. Arjun Yadav (not out) 101, Amol Shinde c R. Solanki b Y. Pathan 57, M.A. Shakeer (not out) 29, Extras (b-6, lb-8, w-1): 15, Total (for four wkts. in 94.4 overs): 272.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-46, 3-86, 4-221

Baroda bowling: Irfan 26-6-67-2, Sunit 11-2-36-0, Yusuf 32-10-80-2, Rajesh Pawar 21.4-7-57-0, Solanki 4-0-18-0.

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