Ravi Bishnoi (3/67) thwarted Andhra’s bid to flee an outright defeat and stored Gujarat inside attain of the complete quota of factors on day three of its Ranji Trophy 2024-25 Elite Group B match on the Narendra Modi Stadium floor B in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
The house facet had secured a 154-run first-innings benefit after bundling Andhra for 213 runs. Nonetheless, it put itself in a quandary when it let go of the prospect to bury its opponent underneath a frightening goal and imposed a follow-on.
Abhishek Reddy (81, 113b, 12×4, 2×6) and Maheep Kumar (55, 129b, 5×4, 1×6) took up the gauntlet to show their groups fortune, forging a 130-run opening-wicket alliance underneath situations conducive for batting. Nonetheless, Bishnoi scalped three wickets to orchestrate a mini-collapse to 145 for 4. Andhra wanted the veteran pairing of Hanuma Vihari and Okay.S. Bharat to stave off additional injury and take it to 203 for 4, main by 49 runs, at Stumps.
Abhishek set the tempo as he confronted the spinners, beginning with Siddharth Desai who he struck for 3 fours in a single over with a late lower, a paddle sweep and a loft over mid-on. Bishnoi went too full in his first spell which allowed Abhishek to channel his vary down the bottom. When supplied width, Abhishek late lower and slapped by way of covers for 2 boundaries towards the leg spinner.
Chancing upon the part-time off-break of Manan Hingrajia, Abhishek and Maheep pocketed a six every with slog sweeps.
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However Bishnoi sparked the competition to life on the stroke of Tea when he pinned Abhishek with a unsuitable one. His subsequent victims have been Shaik Rasheed and Maheep whereas Arzan Nagwaswalla accounted for Ricky Bhui.
The sprint of flamboyance that highlighted Bharat’s first essay within the contest was restricted to an inside-out six towards Siddharth Desai and a sweep off Bishnoi. He ended the day on 31 off 76 deliveries, assuring he can faucet into his reserve of endurance when wanted.
Warning was nowhere on the playing cards for Bharat within the morning session as took the aerial route towards Chintan Gaja within the first over. He adopted it up with a lower towards Nagwaswalla for a second boundary. Nitish Kumar Reddy meted out the identical therapy on Gaja, wafting him over lengthy on for his first most.
The aggression, nonetheless, didn’t work towards Desai. Nitish tried to cost all the way down to the left-arm orthodox bowler however acquired squared up by buy and noticed his stumps rearranged. Bharat perished on 98 when his reverse sweep ballooned as much as first slip off his glove.
The 137-run partnership impressed Tripurana Vijay to tackle the bowlers with abandon. His 31-ball 36 rearguard made Gujarat toil for the ultimate wicket and acquired his facet previous 200.