Solid batting by Anirudh Singh (78) and Arjun Yadav (69) enabled Hyderabad recover from a bad start to a healthy 211 for 5 against Andhra on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group 'B' match here today.
The duo put together a 150-run partnership for the third wicket after the openers fell for 13 runs to a good pace bowling.
Electing to bat, Hyderabad ran into rough weather as Andhra speedsters K S Shahdbuddin and K Kalyan Krishna packed off the openers early in the day.
But skipper Yadav joined Anirudh played with caution, picking the right ball to gather runs, and built the innings.
Andhra skipper Venugoapla Rao, after employing seven bowlers to break the partnership, had to do the job of dismissing both batsmen himself in the 19 overs he bowled at the cost of 46 runs.
Yadav played an elegant knock of 69, inclusive of eight fours, off 186 balls while Anirudh was equally patient, scoring 78 runs off 197 balls, with eleven hits to the fence.
Venugopala Rao dismissed Arjun following a catch by A T Rayudu and then took a return catch to send Anirudh back to pavilion.
The tempo was maintained as Ibrahim Kaleel scored a quickfire, unbeaten 28, with six hits to the fence. At stumps, youngster Amol Shinde (19) was with him at the crease.
For Andhra, Shahbuddin and Venu picked two wickets apiece while Kalyan Krishna accounted for Abhinav Kumar (4).
Unlike the opening match, it was a sunny day, though it is forecast that there could be rain when a depression crosses the coast between Chennai and Machlipatnam sometime on Friday.
Scorecard
Hyderabad (1st innings):
DS Manohar c Prasad b Sahabuddin 8
Abhinav Kumar lbw b Kalyankrishna 4
Anirudh Singh c Rayudu b Venugopal Rao 78
AS Yadav c Rayudu b Venugopal Rao 69
D Vinay Kumar lbw b Sahabuddin 4
I Khaleel not out 28
A Shinde not out 19.
Extras: (nb1) 1
Total: (5 wickets, 90 overs) 211
Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-13, 3-158, 4-163, 5-173.
Bowling: O M R W Sahabuddin 24-9-57-2 (1nb), Kalyankrishna 15-6-26-1, Varma 4-1-9-0, Venugopal Rao 19-5-46-2, Lakshman Kishore 12-4-23-0, Faiq 11-1-34-0, Suresh 2-0-7-0, Gnaneswara Rao 3-1-9-0.
