Captain Ayush Badoni’s best-ever bowling performance of 5/69, which included the key dismissal of Hyderabad skipper Tilak Varma, put Delhi in a strong position for a first-innings lead after Day 3 of their Ranji Trophy Group D clash on Friday.
Responding to Delhi’s huge total of 529/4 declared, Hyderabad ended the day at 400 for 7, still trailing by 130 runs. Senior batter Rohit Rayudu was dismissed on the final ball of the day.
Despite the pitch at the Next-Gen Ground being good for batting, Hyderabad now rely on wicketkeeper Rahul Radesh, who is unbeaten on 41, along with the lower-order batsmen to close the gap.
Earlier in the day, Hyderabad’s batters showed attacking intent, scoring 323 runs. Opener Tanmay Agarwal led the way with a brilliant 132, hitting 15 boundaries. He shared a solid 140-run partnership with Gangam Anikethreddy, who made 87.
At 205 for 1, Hyderabad appeared to be in control. But Badoni turned things around with his off-spin. His bowling was particularly effective because seven of Hyderabad’s top eight were left-handers. He cleverly used the angle to move the ball away and sometimes got it to go straight after pitching.
He first lured Anikethreddy out of his crease with a well-flighted delivery and had him stumped. A few balls later, he dismissed Tilak Varma, trapping him leg-before with a delivery bowled from around the wicket.
After Hyderabad slipped to 205 for 3, they put together two more half-century partnerships. Tanmay added 57 with Kodimela Himateja for the fourth wicket and 65 with Radesh for the fifth.
However, Badoni’s clever use of angles against the left-handers continued to trouble them. He got Himateja out lbw with one that didn’t turn.
The big breakthrough, Tanmay Agarwal’s wicket, was taken by Arpit Rana, who trapped him leg-before.
Hyderabad’s position would have been slightly better had Rohit Rayudu, cousin of former India batter Ambati Rayudu, not been bowled by Badoni right at the end of the day.
