Cricket

S. Ajith Ram, the joint-second highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy last year with 41 scalps, proved his worth once again by claiming four wickets on a placid surface against Chhattisgarh. Describing it as one of the most challenging conditions he had bowled on, the left-arm spinner said, "It was hot out there, and the pitch was very flat. It was tough when the batters had the upper hand, but it was a good experience."Ajith Ram explained his approach, emphasizing the importance of length and varying speeds and lines. "Length is mandatory, but I kept varying my speeds and adjusting my lines at times. It was a test of temperament. On these pitches, you need to be patient, and if you keep bowling at a particular spot, you can get rewards."Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh skipper Amandeep Khare expressed satisfaction with his batters' efforts and confidence in his bowlers' ability to secure at least three points. "We are quite happy with the effort the boys are putting in and the score we have got. We believe 500 is enough and are confident of restricting them," said Khare."Psychologically, if you score 500, it will also impact the other team. The surface helped the batters until tea, but in the final session, it started spinning more. We are playing three spinners and are hopeful our bowlers can get the wickets," he added.

Chhattisgarh, known for its gritty and determined approach, has taken a commanding lead in their third-round Ranji Trophy match against Tamil Nadu. On the second day of the contest at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground, Chhattisgarh posted a formidable total of 500 in their first innings, putting themselves in a strong position to secure a victory.The Chhattisgarh innings was anchored by a solid opening partnership between Ayush Pandey (124) and Rishabh Tiwari (46). However, it was the middle-order batters who truly shone, with Anuj Tiwari (84), Sanjeet Desai (82), and K.D. Eknath (52) all contributing substantial scores. Ajay Mandal's aggressive 64, which included two sixes, further boosted the team's total.Tamil Nadu's bowlers struggled to contain Chhattisgarh's relentless batting onslaught. Ajith Ram, the left-arm spinner, was the pick of the bowlers, claiming four wickets for 132 runs. However, his efforts were not enough to prevent Chhattisgarh from amassing a massive score.In reply, Tamil Nadu ended the day at 23 for one, with opener S. Lokeshwar falling cheaply to off-spinner Jeevesh Butte. The home team faces an uphill task in the remaining two days of the match, needing to score heavily and avoid a defeat.The pitch at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground has remained good for batting, but there were signs of the odd ball turning sharply in the final hour of play. This could provide some hope for Tamil Nadu's spinners as they look to restrict Chhattisgarh's lead.

Tamil Nadu, buoyed by its impressive start to the Ranji Trophy campaign, will face Chhattisgarh in a crucial third-round match (Elite Group D) at the Sri Ramakrishna College Ground on Saturday.After crushing Saurashtra by an innings in the season opener, TN came within two wickets of another innings victory against Delhi. Only fading light and some questionable time-wasting tactics by the Delhi lower-order prevented N. Jagadeesan's men from securing seven points.The southern side has established Coimbatore as its fortress, winning its last four encounters at this venue by an innings. It will aim to extend this successful run against Chhattisgarh.However, the home team will face some forced changes due to the departure of Washington Sundar (India), B. Sai Sudharsan, and B. Indrajith (both India-A) for national duties. The management must find an opening partner for skipper Jagadeesan, while all-rounder Vijay Shankar and M. Boopathi Vaishna Kumar could slot into the middle-order.With the pitch expected to favor spinners, TN may consider resting one of its pacers and playing an extra tweaker. "We are extremely proud of the brand of cricket we played. Even in the last match, we bowled nearly 190 overs over two days and maintaining the same energy was a task, but everyone did it," said Jagadeesan.Chhattisgarh, on the other hand, will be eager to earn some points after managing just two so far. The Amandeep Khare-led side has the depth in its lineup to challenge the hosts. Most of the batters have runs under their belt, and the outfit boasts a decent spin attack led by Ajay Mandal.In the previous game against Saurashtra, Khare slammed a brilliant double-century while Sanjeet Desai scored a ton. However, the in-form TN bowlers in their backyard will pose a sterner test, and how the visitor's batters tackle them could determine the course of the contest.

Jonty Sidhu, the 26-year-old left-handed batsman, has made a strong start to the new Ranji Trophy season, echoing his impressive performance in the previous campaign. In the opening fixture against Chhattisgarh, Sidhu's unbeaten 103 played a crucial role in Delhi securing the first-innings lead and three points.Sidhu's innings was a testament to his ability to blend caution with aggression, particularly when the team was in a precarious position at 202 for five. He forged valuable partnerships with the lower order, demonstrating his composure and adaptability in challenging situations.Despite his impressive average of 49.1 after 23 First Class matches, this was surprisingly Sidhu's first selection for Delhi's opening game in three seasons. Buoyed by his strong start, he is optimistic about his prospects and aims to make the most of his opportunity.Sidhu's ideal batting position is at No. 4, and he believes that this will allow him to make a more significant impact on the team's performance. He is particularly excited about Delhi's upcoming match against Tamil Nadu, a team against which he has a strong record, having scored two fifties and a century in three previous encounters.Sidhu's resurgence is a welcome boost for Delhi, who have struggled in recent seasons. His ability to contribute consistently with the bat will be crucial to their hopes of improving their fortunes in the Ranji Trophy.

Hyderabad emerged victorious in the Buchi Babu tournament, securing a resounding 243-run triumph over Chhattisgarh in the summit clash at the NPR College Ground. The Rahul Singh-led side had already established a crucial first-innings lead, setting Chhattisgarh an improbable target of 518 in 90 overs.Chhattisgarh's openers, Ayush Pandey and Shashank Chandrakar, provided a spirited start, stitching together a 100-run partnership off just 103 balls. Pandey, in particular, showcased his prowess with a brilliant century, smashing 13 fours and 3 sixes in his 134-ball knock. Chandrakar also contributed with a brisk 50, hitting 6 fours and 2 sixes.However, Hyderabad's spinners proved to be the match-winners. Left-arm spinner Tanay Thyagarajan was the chief destroyer, claiming five wickets for 61 runs. His persistent bowling kept chipping away at Chhattisgarh's batting lineup, despite the runs flowing at a brisk pace.Chhattisgarh managed to reach 194 for five in the action-packed first session, but Hyderabad's spinners tightened their grip post-lunch. Pandey eventually reached his landmark, but his dismissal signaled the end of Chhattisgarh's resistance. Hyderabad's spinners wrapped things up just before tea, securing a comprehensive victory.Hyderabad skipper Rahul Singh hailed the win as a morale-booster ahead of the team's return to the Elite Group for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season. "We wanted to play aggressive cricket and did it throughout the tournament," said Singh. "We did that in the Plate group last year, which was a bit easy, but we played against some good teams here."Hyderabad took home a prize of ₹three lakh, while Chhattisgarh received ₹two lakh.

Rohit Rayudu's masterful 155 (260b, 8x4, 8x6) propelled Hyderabad to a commanding position against Chhattisgarh on day two of the Buchi Babu tournament final at the NPR College ground.Rayudu, who had showcased his defensive prowess on the opening day, displayed his attacking instincts on Monday. He began cautiously but shifted gears seamlessly after Hyderabad lost two early wickets. The 30-year-old smashed left-arm spinner Shashank Tiwari for a boundary and a swept six to move into the 90s. He reached his century in style, sweeping off-spinner Sahban Khan over midwicket for a maximum.Rayudu continued his onslaught, smoking pacer Vasudev Bareth for two sixes in one over. He stood tall and punched elegantly over the cover boundary before pulling him over square-leg to reach his 150. He found able support from Aniketh Reddy, and the duo stitched a 101-run stand (109 balls) for the ninth wicket, taking the game away from Chhattisgarh.Hyderabad's spinners then backed up their batters' efforts by running through the Chhattisgarh top-order. Rohit Rayudu, who had earlier opened the bowling, accounted for the first two wickets with his off-spin. Left-arm spinners Tanay Thyagarajan (three for 40) and Aniket Reddy (three for 45) took over, reducing Chhattisgarh to 145 for eight at stumps.

Hyderabad's batters put on a strong performance on the opening day of the Buchi Babu final, amassing 288 runs for the loss of six wickets against Chhattisgarh at the NPR College Ground.Openers M. Abhirath Reddy and Tanmay Agarwal provided a solid start, stitching together a 67-run partnership. Abhirath, in particular, displayed an aggressive approach, employing sweep shots to find the boundary five times.However, Chhattisgarh's left-arm spinner Gagandeep Singh broke the partnership, trapping Tanmay in front. Off-spinner Shashank Tiwari then removed skipper Rahul Singh, who chipped one to short-midwicket.Abhirath and Rohit Rayudu steadied the innings with an 87-run alliance. Abhirath reached his half-century and continued to find boundaries, including a maximum over long-on. However, he fell 15 runs short of a century, pulling a half-tracker to square-leg.Chhattisgarh gained momentum with two more wickets, reducing Hyderabad to 198 for five. But Rohit and Rahul Ridesh (48) kept the spinners at bay, adding 79 runs for the sixth wicket before Ridesh was dismissed two overs before stumps.

Chhattisgarh's openers, Ayush Pandey and Anuj Tiwari, put on a dominant 145-run partnership to propel their team to a strong position on day one of the Buchi Babu tournament semifinals against TNCA XI.Pandey, a left-handed opener, played a patient innings, accumulating 82 runs off 172 deliveries. He displayed a solid technique, driving the ball confidently and using the sweep shot effectively against the spinners.Tiwari, on the other hand, was more aggressive, scoring 93 runs off 175 balls. He showcased his power-hitting abilities with two sixes and 10 fours, including some impressive cover drives and straight drives.The duo's partnership was built on a combination of patience and aggression. They rotated the strike regularly, keeping the scoreboard ticking over, while also punishing loose deliveries.After Tiwari's dismissal, Prateek Yadav came to the crease and played a brisk half-century (61 batting off 67 balls). He hit seven fours and three sixes, providing further impetus to Chhattisgarh's innings.At the close of play, Chhattisgarh had reached 294 for three wickets in 90 overs. Skipper Amandeep Khare (35 batting off 117 balls) was holding fort at the other end.The TNCA XI bowlers struggled to contain Chhattisgarh's batters, with left-arm spinner S. Ajith Ram and off-spinner Lakshay Jain being the most economical. However, they were unable to break the partnership between Pandey and Tiwari.

In the ongoing Buchi Babu Memorial all-India invitational cricket tournament, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) has taken a commanding lead against Chhattisgarh in the Group-D match. On day three, J&K declared their first innings on 587 for nine, securing a 309-run lead.Opener Shubham Khajuria played a marathon innings, scoring 202 runs off 368 deliveries, including 17 fours and 8 sixes. He shared a crucial 223-run fifth-wicket partnership with Sahil Lotra (107 off 192 balls, 9 fours, 2 sixes).In response, Chhattisgarh managed to score only 46 for two in their second innings, trailing by 263 runs.Meanwhile, in Group-A, Madhya Pradesh (MP) is in a strong position against Jharkhand. Aniket Verma's 110 (109 balls, 6 fours, 7 sixes) helped MP reach 238 in their second innings. Jharkhand, chasing 175, ended the day on 37 for one.Earlier, MP's medium-pacer Parush Mandal claimed five wickets for 42 runs, bowling out Jharkhand for 289 in their first innings, giving MP a 64-run lead.In other matches, Indian Railways declared their first innings on 570 and then scored 135 for five in their second innings against Gujarat in Group-B. Haryana declared their first innings on 419 and Mumbai responded with 83 for two in Group-C.