Having entered the fray with Hyderabad down five wickets and just 150 runs on the board, Rahul Radesh’s patient and unbeaten half-century helped his side push its head above water at the end of the opening day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group D clash against Rajasthan.
On Sunday, he switched gears at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, marching to a hundred to help Hyderabad post 364 in its first batting essay. Despite losing Tanay Thyagarajann in the second over, the keeper-batter launched into the Rajasthan attack, scoring eight fours in just 39 deliveries — as many as he hit in 163 balls on day one.
A pull off Ashok Sharma brought up a well-deserved century — his second in First Class cricket, both coming against Rajasthan over two seasons. The 22-year-old couldn’t continue in the same vein, though, perishing a few overs later. Hyderabad folded soon after, adding 69 runs to its overnight score.
Rajasthan nearly lost Sachin Yadav without a run on board, after substitute P. Nitish Reddy’s missed direct hit catching him well short.
Sachin and Salman Khan chose caution as Rajasthan made it to lunch with a bruise. But wickets fell like dominoes thereafter, with Sachin leading the procession to the dugout.
Aniketh Reddy then trapped skipper Mahipal Lomror leg before. Tanay’s twin strikes to dismiss Salman and Karthik Sharma pushed Rajasthan further down a hole.
Deepak Hooda came in with the intention of repeating his heroics against Mumbai, but Tanmay Agarwal took a smart catch at first slip off Aniketh to nip any such hopes in the bud, much to the disappointment of his family in the stands.
After losing five wickets for just 83 runs, Rajasthan recovered in the final session, courtesy of a gritty fifty from Kunal Singh Rathore. His 104-run stand with Ajay Kookna helped the visitor to 221 for five at stumps.
The scores:
Hyderabad — 1st innings: Tanmay Agarwal c&b Akash 6, Abhirath Reddy c Kunal b Ashok 9, K. Himateja c Kunal b Chahar 39, Rahul Singh Gahlaut c Kunal b Ashok 55, Varun Goud c Salman b Aniket 23, Rahul Radesh lbw b Chahar 129, Rohit Rayudu c Kunal b Sachin 47, C.V. Milind c Kunal b Aniket 14, Tanay Thyagarajann c Kunal b Ashok 6, Aniketh Reddy c Kunal b Chahar 22, B. Punnaiah (not out) 0; Extras (nb-1, b-5, lb-5, w-3): 14; Total (in 104.1 overs): 364.
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-21, 3-101, 4-121, 5-101, 6-267, 7-287, 8-297, 9-361.
Rajasthan bowling: Aniket 22-2-51-2, Akash 14-3-38-1, Ashok 19-1-89-3, Ajay 23-0-65-0, Rahul 22.1-0-96-3, Sachin 4-0-15-1.
Rajasthan — 1st innings: Salman Khan lbw Tanay 37, Sachin Yadav c Rahul Singh b Milind 43, Mahipal Lomror lbw Aniketh 13, Deepak Hooda c Tanmay b Aniketh 17, Kartik Sharma b Tanay 0, Kunal Singh Rathore (batting) 64, Ajay Kookna (batting) 42; Extras (b-4, w-1): 5; Total (for 5 wkts. in 72 overs): 221.
Fall of wickets: 1-68, 2-89, 3-105, 4-105, 5-117.
Hyderabad bowling: Punnaiah 9-2-23-0, Milind 12-1-35-1, Aniketh 14-0-50-2, Tanay 21-2-58-2, Rohit 13-2-39-0, Varun 2-0-5-0, Himateja 1-0-7-0.
Published – November 09, 2025 06:44 pm IST
