Hyderabad held what looked like a winning hand: a bouncer that did its work, a sharp catch at slip and nine Punjab wickets in the bag. Salil Arora then held his nerve and Umesh Yadav offered a straight bat.
By the time the cards were turned, Salil recorded his highest First Class score (151, 268b, 11x4, 4x6) and Punjab finished on 431 in a Ranji Trophy clash at the Gymkhana Ground on Tuesday.
Hyderabad, anchored by Abhirath Reddy and Raul Radesh’s 259-ball 154-run stand, ended the day on 193 for two.
Earlier, the home side began with a flourish, courtesy C.V. Milind. Emanjot Singh fell first and Harjas Singh followed, undone by a bouncer. Harpreet Brar was then trapped leg-before and by the 45th minute into day two, Punjab was 315 for nine.
A century for Salil, batting on 73, looked a far cry when Umesh joined him. What followed was a last-wicket resistance.
Umesh dug in, content to defend, while Salil inched towards the 90s.
Then, Salil cut loose, launching the ball over long-off. That urgency nearly cost him, when a straight drive fell agonisingly short of Abhirath. Unfazed, He brought up his third consecutive century this season with a maximum over extra cover.
Umesh, playing second fiddle until then, smashed a six and two fours off Varun Goud, announcing a change of gears.
Salil went past 150 before Rakshann Readdi breached his defences to end the 154-ball 116-run stand heading into lunch. Umesh remained unbeaten on 37 (56b, 3x4, 3x6).
Hyderabad was pegged back before it could settle, Tanmay Agarwal’s flick flying straight to Jashanpreet Singh Sidhu at short-leg. Abhirath and Rahul, understandably, batted with some caution.
Their patient approach was rewarded with fifties: Abhirath getting to the milestone off 75 balls while Rahul got there in 105.
Abhirath, however, fell agonisingly short of a century when Salil produced a low, diving catch. By stumps, Hyderabad trailed Punjab by 238 runs.
The scores:
Punjab — 1st innings: Vihaan Malhotra c Ruthik b Rakshann 12, Harnoor Singh c Pragnay b Tanay 17, Prabhsimran Singh b Rakshann 81, Uday Saharan c Rahul Singh b Aniketh 16, Jashanpreet Singh Sidhu run out 45, Salil Arora b Rakshann 151, Ramandeep Singh b Milind 52, Emanjot Singh c Himateja b Milind 9, Harjas Singh c Pragnay b Milind 0, Harpreet Brar lbw Milind 2, Umesh Yadav (batting) 37; Extras (b-7, nb-1, w-1): 9; Total (in 124.5 overs): 431.
Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-62, 3-105, 4-139, 5-182, 6-275, 7-303, 8-309, 9-315.
Hyderabad bowling: Milind 20-3-79-4, Rakshann 20.5-1-80-3, Ruthik 6-1-18-0, Tanany 41-2-115-1, Aniketh 32-1-112-1, Varun 5-0-20-0.
Hyderabad — 1st innings: Tanmay Agarwal c Jashanpreet b Harpreet 2, Abhirath Reddy c Salil b Umesh 97, Rahul Radesh (batting) 72, K. Himateja (batting) 8; Extras (b-9, lb-5): 14; Total (for two wkts. in 54 overs): 193.
Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-169.
Punjab bowling: Umesh 12-3-29-1, Harpreet 18-2-59-1, Emanjot 15-0-53-0, Harjas 8-1-36-0, Uday 1-0-2-0.