The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Andhra strikes back on day two

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Thursday, Dec 27, 2007
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Andhra strikes back on day two

Special Correspondent

— PHOTO: PTI

PAT FROM THE MASTER: Andhra Ranji team coach and former Indian cricketer Syed Abid Ali congratulates P. Vijay Kumar for his five-wicket haul.

KOLKATA: Andhra dismissed host Bengal for a paltry 98 in the first innings and lifted itself to a position of strength to notch up an overall lead of 170 in its second knock with four wickets in hand at close on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Super League Group ‘B’ tie at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday.

It was payback time for Andhra as its three-man pace battery of D. Kalyankrishna, P. Vijay Kumar and Israel Raju ran through the Bengal first innings to snatch a vital 23-run first innings lead. Andhra was 147 for six at stumps.

“Pitch is definitely slowing down. On this kind of a wicket it is difficult to set targets,” said Andhra captain M.S.K. Prasad.

Lack of killer instinct

Fifteen wickets fell for 199 runs in 61.2 overs. Having dismissed Bengal before lunch, Andhra could have enjoyed the day but some of its batsmen made basic mistakes to get out. Opener Hemal Watekar produced the best knock of the day — a fine 67 with the aid of nine fours .

Vijay Kumar on song

The morning session certainly belonged to Andhra medium-pacer Vijay Kumar. The 21-year-old struck twice in the day’s first over removing Wriddhiman Saha and Priyankar Mukherjee off the second and fourth ball.

Vijay Kumar retuned a career best five for 31 .

The scores: Andhra — 1st innings: 121.

Bengal — 1st innings: A. Majumdar c Vijay Kumar b Raju 10, A. Das lbw b Kalyankrishna 17, W. Saha lbw b Vijay Kumar 19, P. Mukherjee c M.S.K. Prasad b Vijay Kumar 0, M. Tiwary b Vijay Kumar 0, L.R. Shukla b Vijay Kumar 4, K.H. Mondal b Y.G. Rao 11, R. Chowdhury b Y.G. Rao 0, R. Bose c Varma b Vijay Kumar 1, A. Dinda c Reddy b Raju 27, S.S. Paul (not out) 7; Extras (lb-1, nb-1): 2; Total (in 45.2 overs): 98.

Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-46, 3-46, 4-48, 5-48, 6-61, 7-63, 8-63, 9-72.

Andhra bowling: D. Kalyankrishna 12-3-27-1, P. Vijay Kumar 16-5-31-5, I. Raju 6.2-3-13-2, G.S. Rao 2-0-9-0, Y.G. Rao 9-1-17-2.

Andhra – 2nd innings: H. Watekar c Saha b Mukherjee 67, L.N.P. Reddy c Saha b Paul 12, D. Kalyankrishna lbw b Bose 12, Y.G. Rao c Dinda b Bose 6, A.S.K. Varma c Saha b Bose 6, B. Sumanth lbw b Bose 1, M.S.K. Prasad (batting) 26, A.G. Pradeep (batting) 16; Extras (w-1): 1; Total (for six wkts. in 50 overs): 147.

Fall of wickets: 1-47, 2-88, 3-98, 4-104, 5-104, 6-109.

Bengal bowling: R. Bose 19-5-54-4, S.S. Paul 14-6-24-1, A. Dinda 8-2-33-0, R. Chowdhury 3-1-19-0, P. Mukherjee 6-2-17-1.

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