Ranji Trophy 2022-23 QF: Andhra skipper Hanuma Vihari beats one-handed but MP tightens grip on Day 3 game
Ranji Trophy 2023 MP vs AP quarter-final
Chasing a winning target of 245, the hosts reached 58 for no loss at stumps after grouping their opponents for 93 in their second run, courtesy of Avesh Khan’s four-wicket carry.
Hanuma Vihari breaks wrist in Ranji Match, then goes out left-handed batting: Watch
Braving the wrist injury, Vihari – in what was a repeat of the first inning when he returned to left-handed batting – hit southpaw to score 15 runs at No. 11.
Hanuma Vihari Bats Left Handed
He broke three boundaries, including an insane reverse sweep, but couldn’t do much as the team slumped to 93 in 32.3 overs.
“Do it for the team. Do it for the band. Never give up!! Thank you all for your wishes. It means a lot!” Vihari had tweeted on the second day.
Avesh Khan continues to impress with the ball
Earlier, resuming overnight at 144 for 4, MP was knocked out for 228 with medium paced left arm Prithvi Raj Yarra picking up five wickets. Prithvi Raj added the scalps of Harsh Gawli (1), Saransh Jain (8), Avesh Khan (15) and Kumar Kartikeya (24, 4 fours) to finish with stunning numbers of 5 for 26.
Andhra batters crumble in second inning
The home team looked in danger of being sent back below 200 before Kartikeya and Avesh sewed up a 48-run stand for the ninth wicket to extend the score to 228. With a big lead of 151, Andhra had to beat well in the second innings to put MP out of the race.
However, the MP bowlers got through the visiting team’s batting unit in just 32.3 overs. Avesh, who bowls with a lot of spirit and a big heart, set the tone by knocking out fly-half CR Gnaneshwar (1) in the second set, having him picked up by Yash Dubey.
Fellow fly-half Abhishek Reddy (1) fell to fourth, trapped LBW. A 37-run stand for the third wicket between Nitish Kumar Reddy (14) and Ashwin Hebbar (35, 65, 4×4, 1×6) followed.
Once Gaurav Yadav (3/10) knocked out Nitish and Kumar Kartikeya (2/41) got the key wicket from first-inning centurion Ricky Bhui (1), things went downhill for Andhra.
Confident start for MP in response
The MP bowlers continued to pick up wickets at regular intervals and Andhra’s innings ended at 93. Set a target of 245, the home side were 58 for no loss in 16 overs, needing 187 more to qualify for the semi-finals.
Open hitters Yash Dubey (24 at bat) and Himanshu Mantri (31 at bat) got off to a good start as MP looked to cap off a splendid comeback, engineered by Avesh & Co.
Brief notes:
Andhra 379 all out in 127.1 overs (Ricky Bhui 149, Karan Shinde 110; Anubhav Agarwal 4/72) and 93 all out in 32.3 overs (Ashwin Hebbar 35; Avesh Khan 4/24, Gaurav Yadav 3/10) against Madhya Pradesh 228 all out in 69.1 overs (Shubham Sharma 51, Aditya Srivastava 31; Y Prithvi Raj 5/26, KV Sasikanth 3/49) and 58 unbeaten in 16 overs.
(With PTI inputs)
Ranji Trophy 2022-23 QF: Andhra skipper Hanuma Vihari beats one-handed but MP tightens grip on Day 3 game
