Amandeep Khare and Dev Aditya Singh save Chhattisgarh with epic stand
Chhattisgarh captain Amandeep Khare’s unbeaten 176 and Dev Aditya Singh’s 79 not out scripted a stunning ninth-wicket stand to deny Hyderabad an outright win in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match, ending in a hard-fought draw
Hyderabad: Chhattisgarh captain Amandeep Khare played one of those dream knocks and arguably one of the finest ever at Gymkhana Ground here in the Ranji Trophy, guiding his team to a remarkable draw from a seemingly impossible position against Hyderabad in the Elite Group D last league match on Sunday.
In the company of Dev Aditya Singh (79, 95b, 19×4), Amandeep (176 n.o., 23×4, 2×6) stitched together a match-saving, unbroken 193-run stand for the ninth wicket after Chhattisgarh was staring at an innings defeat at 218 for eight in the 79th over, having conceded a massive lead of 348 runs.
The left-arm spinners Tanay Thyagarajan and G Anikethreddy bowled a much better line and length today and repeatedly tested the batters, but at the same time conceded quite a few easy boundaries.
Anikethreddy saw the well-set Anuj Tiwary (88, 164b, 12×4, 1×6) snapped up at leg-slip in the 61st over (167/3) after putting on 125 runs for the third wicket with Amandeep. Then, there was a collapse of sorts as Vikalp Tiwari (10), Mayank Varma (1), first innings centurion Prateek Yadav (4), Sabhan Khan (0) and Aditya Sarwate (7) failed to get going.
Then unfolded a grand fightback thanks to Amandeep, who combined defiance, belligerence and wonderful stroke selection, and importantly found in Dev Aditya Singh, who has a double century to his credit in the under-19 grade, an equal partner for the task.
At the start, there was no hint of things to come. But the approach in handling the uphill task was outstanding, taking it over by over. Not that they didn’t play strokes. Dev Aditya essayed some glorious cover drives off both pace and spin, and the way he handled fiery India fast bowler and Hyderabad captain Mohd Siraj under pressure was a treat to watch.
Amandeep targeted Anikethreddy — pulling him to the fence, hitting a straight six and then playing a late cut to the fence in one over. Later again, he treated the same spinner with ease with a flowing cover drive and then pulled one over the fence.
Siraj bowled his heart out when the second new ball was taken at 266 for eight, but he and his bowlers ran into a batting duo playing at a different level. Chhattisgarh reached 411 for eight when the match was called off after the eighth mandatory over, leaving Hyderabad content with a draw.
Both Hyderabad (16 points) and Chhattisgarh (17 points) failed to qualify for the knock-out.
The scores: Chhattisgarh 283 in 72.3 overs & 411/8 in 122 overs (Anuj Tiwary 88, Amandeep Khare 176 n.o., Dev Aditya Singh 79 n.o., Tanay Thyagarajan 3/114, G Anikethreddy 3/147) drew with Hyderabad 631 in 154 overs.
