Ranji Trophy | Pragnay hits ton as Hyderabad piles the pressure on Chhattisgarh

Hyderabad saved its best batting performance for the final league match of its Ranji Trophy season.

After tons from Abhirath Reddy and K. Himateja put the host in a commanding position in the Elite Group D clash against Chhattisgarh, Pragnay Reddy joined the centurions list on Day 3 at the Gymkhana Ground here on Friday. Pragnay’s ton helped Hyderabad secure a substantial 348-run first-innings lead.

Resuming the day after having laid a solid foundation, Himateja and Pragnay built on their 91-run unbeaten stand with patience and purpose. Ninety-four runs were added before Himateja was stumped. Having scored just one half-century in the red-ball season prior to this game, Himateja expressed satisfaction after his 258-ball 171 (18×4, 1×6). “Getting back among the runs is a very happy feeling, as is ending the season on a high. But there is some disappointment that this knock came late in the season,” Himateja told The Hindu.

“In the match, about 70% of my boundaries were hit through covers. I was not letting them (Chhattisgarh bowlers) bowl with a plan; I was manipulating them by using my feet all the time. I enjoyed batting after a long time. No matter how many fielders filled the cover region, I was always looking to find the gaps. I am really happy with the way I played. There are no regrets.”

With 485 runs, Himateja now sits second on Hyderabad’s run chart, 59 behind Rahul Singh. Meanwhile, Pragnay (126, 184b, 14×4, 4×6), playing his first match of the season, brought up his century before lunch but ran out of partners soon after. Responding to the host’s 631, Chhattisgarh finished the day with 100 runs shaved off Hyderabad’s lead for the loss of two wickets.

Looking ahead to the final day, Himateja hoped for a swift finish. “We’re looking to get those eight wickets. Once the current partnership (an unbeaten 58-run stand between captain Amandeep Khare and deputy Anuj Tiwary) is broken, we will get wickets in bunches.”

The scores: Chhattisgarh – 1st innings: 283.

Hyderabad – 1st innings: Aman Rao c Dev Aditya b Sarwate 52, Abhirath Reddy c Mayank b Ayush 121, Rahul Singh c Mayank b Dev Aditya 39, K. Himateja st Mayank b Sarwate 171, Rahul Radesh b Ravi 18, Pragnay Reddy c Dev Aditya b Sanjeet 126, Tanay Thyagarajann c Ravi b Dev Aditya 32, Mohammed Siraj c Sourabh b Sahban 10, G. Aniketh Reddy c Mayank b Sahban 3, Rakshann Readdi (not out) 23, B. Punnaiah st. Mayank b Ayush 12; Extras (b-9, lb-7, w-8): 24; Total (in 154 overs): 631.

Fall of wickets: 1-96, 2-142, 3-289, 4-324, 5-509, 6-558, 7-575, 8-590, 9-598.

Chhattisgarh bowling: Ravi 24-1-117-1, Sarwate 36.5-6-132-2, Dev Aditya 24-3-108-2, Sahban 45.1-2-172-2, Ayush 14-2-53-2, Prateek 5-0-17-0, Sanjeet 5-2-16-1.

Chhattisgarh – 2nd innings: Ayush Pandey c Pragnay b Rakshann 24, Anuj Tiwari (batting) 47, Sanjeet Desai c Aman b Siraj 0, Amandeep Khare (batting) 25; Extras (nb-1, lb-3): 4; Total (for two wkts. in 39 overs): 100.

Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-42.

Hyderabad bowling: Siraj 7-2-13-1, Thyagarajann 13-2-34-0, Aniketh 12-1-35-0, Rakshann 5-3-5-1, Himateja 2-0-10-0.