Hyderabad retains Buchi Babu Trophy, its sixth overall title

Emerges title winner by virtue of its first innings lead against Tamil Nadu President’s XI in the four-day final after the match ended in a draw in Chennai

Hyderabad: Hyderabad retained the All India Buchi Babu invitation cricket tournament by virtue of its first innings lead against Tamil Nadu President’s XI in the four-day final after the match ended in a draw in Chennai on Tuesday.

For Hyderabad, this was the sixth overall title.

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A defiant Varun Goud (56 not out) and Rahul Radesh (31 not out) put on an unbeaten 85 runs off 242 balls for the sixth wicket, which dented any hopes the Tamil Nadu outfit had of pulling off a dramatic result in the final.

With Aman Rao (19), K. Himateja (11), and captain Rahul Singh dismissed cheaply, Hyderabad was in a spot of bother before Varun and Rahul pulled the team out of trouble.

There was an interruption of play because of rain in the second session, forcing an early tea break and 15 minutes after the play resumed, the two teams agreed to bring curtains down, and Hyderabad emerged the winner by virtue of the vital first innings lead of 23 runs.

The scores: Final: Hyderabad 376 in 115.4 overs & 155/5 in 70 overs (T Ravi Teja 30, Varun Goud 56 no, Rahul Radesh 31 no) drew with Tamilnadu Presidents XI 353 in 138.2 overs.