Hyderabad draw with Gujarat in Ranji Trophy

Hyderabad, Dec 12 (UNI) Hosts Hyderabad drew with Gujarat, thanks to the responsible batting display by Arjun Yadav and NP Singh, in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group-B match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium here today.

Hyderabad, resuming at their overnight score of 63 for the loss of two wickets, could manage to post 255 in 118.2 overs, thus leaving a difficult target of 55 runs for a win. Gujarat, after making 22 for the loss of one wicket in their second innings, gave up the chase and settled for a draw, ensuring them two vital points from their third match.

Find of the season D B Raviteja and former Junior India skipper A T Rayudu batted sensibly, avoiding further damage to Hyderabad.

They took the score to 155/2 at lunch. Rahudu was caught by Thaker off Timil Patel for 40 off 141 balls with four fours.

Raviteja followed him without leg before. He made 72 off 241 balls, studded with seven hits to the fence. Later Arjun Yadav, who cracked a century for South Zone against Srilanka-A at Kolkata, played a crucial role again with a responsible half century (59 off 125 balls.

NP Singh (24) gave him good support from the other end. Hyderabad wiped out their deficit and gave a modest target of 55 runs to Gujarat, who gave up after making 22 for the loss of one wicket.

Hyderabad will play their next match here against Mumbai from December 17. Hyderabad could get four points from three matches, while Gujarat gained two points from their third match.

Scoreboard: Hyderabad 1st innings 205 all out Gujarat 1st innings 406/9 decl, Hyderabad 2nd innings TS Suman c PA Patel b Majmudar 7 DB Ravi Teja lbw b Makda 72 A Singh c NK Patel b TK Patel 22 AT Rayudu c Thaker b TK Patel 40 AS Yadav c PA Patel b Makda 59 D Vinay Kumar c PA Patel b Singh 2 I Khaleel c Modi b Singh 0 PIS Reddy c PA Patel b Singh 0 PK Reddy b Makda 0 NP Singh not out 24 P Ojha c Bilakhia b TK Patel 6 Extras (b 5, lb 5, nb 13) 23 Total (all out; 118.2 overs) 255 Fall of wickets :1-12, 2-62, 3-151, 4-178, 5-190, 6-196, 7-200, 8-203, 9-236.

Bowling : AM Makda 32-8-79-3, Majmudar 18-4-32-1, A Singh 30-9-59-3, JT Makla 9-2-17-0, TK Patel 23.2-11-43-3, HH Watekar 4-1-5-0, AA Bilakhia 2-0-10-0.

Gujarat 2nd innings Parthiv Patel not out 9 Bilakhia c&b PIS Reddy 0 Thaker not out 12 Extras (lb 1) 1 Total (1 wicket) 22 Fall of wicket : 1-1.

Bowling : PIS Reddy 2-0-12-1, PK Reddy 2-0-9-0.

UNI