A 104-run unbroken partnership between Rajasthan’s Kunal Singh Rathore and Ajay Kookna by the end of day two surprisingly did not faze Hyderabad.
The home side believed in its ability to wreak havoc with the new ball on Monday and did just that on day three of this Ranji Trophy Elite Group D contest at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here.
Rajasthan managed to add just 48 runs to its overnight score of 221. B. Punnaiah led the attack, dismissing Ajay and Akash Singh.
K. Himateja’s diving one-handed catch stopped Rahul Chahar from contributing tangibly to the cause, leaving Kunal to wage a lone battle to chip away at Hyderabad’s lead.
Skipper Rahul Singh Gahlaut then turned to C.V. Milind to trap the big fish. He adeptly varied his pace and caught Kunal off-guard, drawing out a false shot that went right back to Milind’s hands. Fittingly, Rajasthan’s final wicket was marked by a flying middle stump and a clueless Aniket Choudhary, who could do nothing but watch.
With a 95-run first innings lead in hand, Hyderabad had walked the talk, but like Muhammad Ali once said, it’s not bragging if you can back it up.
In the second essay, Tanmay Agarway and Abhirath Reddy’s cautious approach cracked post lunch, with ’keeper Kunal proving effective with two nifty catches to dismiss the openers.
Rajasthan would have celebrated a quick third scalp, with skipper Rahul facing the heat with 18 runs on the board, until the umpire signalled a no-ball. He made the visitors pay, getting to 59 off 66 balls before Sachin Yadav’s throw caught him well short.
The final hour went Rajasthan’s way, with the side managing a trio of scalps – Varun Goud, Rahul Radesh and Milind – to keep the side alive in the fight for a second win this season heading into day four.
The scores:
Hyderabad – 1st innings: 364.
Rajasthan — 1st innings: Salman Khan lbw b Tanay 37, Sachin Yadav c Rahul Radesh b Milind 43, Mahipal Lomror lbw b Aniketh 13, Deepak Hooda c Tanmay b Aniketh 17, Kartik Sharma b Tanay 0, Kunal Singh Rathore c & b Milind 83, Ajay Kookna c Aniket b Punnaiah 58, Akash Singh c Rohit b Punnaiah 1, Rahul Chahar c Himateja b Tanay 10, Ashok Sharma (not out) 1, Aniket Choudhary b Milind 0; Extras (b-4, lb-1, w-1): 6; Total (in 94.4 overs): 269.
Fall of wickets: 1-68, 2-89, 3-105, 4-105, 5-117, 6-242, 7-248, 8-261, 9-269.
Hyderabad bowling: Punnaiah 16-2-39-2, Milind 17.4-1-44-3, Aniketh 17-0-59-2, Tanay 24-2-64-3, Rohit 17-2-46-0, Varun 2-0-5-0, Himateja 1-0-7-0.
Hyderabad – 2nd innings: Tanmay Agarwal c Kunal b Ajay 12, Abhirath Reddy c Kunal b Ashok 14, Rahul Singh Gahlaut run out 59, K. Himateja b Ashok 41, Varun Goud c Kunal b Akash 29, Rahul Radesh b Lomror 7, Rohit Rayudu (batting) 19, C.V. Milind lbw b Lomror 10, Tanay Thyagarajan (batting) 3; Extras (nb-2, lb-2): 4; Total (for seven wkts. in 62 overs): 198.
Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-54, 3-98, 4-159, 5-159, 6-170, 7-194.
Rajasthan bowling: Aniket 8-2-27-0, Akash 9-2-17-1, Ajay 24-1-69-1, Lomror 12-2-30-2, Ashok 6-0-33-2, Rahul 3-0-20-0.
Published – November 10, 2025 06:49 pm IST
