Rain interrupts play as Puducherry struggles at 92/8 against Hyderabad

Rain halted Puducherry's reply to Hyderabad's 435, leaving them struggling at 92/8 on day three of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match. Punnaiah and Tanay Thyagarajan impressed with the ball, while rain interruptions further hampered the hosts' progress

Hyderabad: Rain came to the rescue of Puducherry, which was struggling at 92 for eight in reply to Hyderabad’s imposing total of 435, when play was stopped due to wet ground conditions on the third day of the four-day Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match in Puducherry on Monday.

Resuming at the overnight score of 25 for one, the home team suffered early blows, with fast bowler Punnaiah bowling an impressive spell in which he took two wickets – sending back opener Ganga Sridhar Raju (11) and Mohit Kale (0), trapped lbw, to reduce the hosts to 30 for three in the 15th over.

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Soon, left-arm pacer Chama Milind cleaned up Akash Kargave (5) to make it 34 for four in the 18th over.

Then, a handy contribution from Anand Bais (41, 77b, 6×4), who was eventually dismissed by left-arm spinner G. Anikethreddy in the 30th over (84 for six), ensured that Puducherry had something to cheer.

However, left-arm spinner Tanay Thyagarajan, who missed the season opener against Delhi at home due to injury, picked up two wickets to further dent the innings.

After the first rain interruption, the home team lost seven wickets before another spell of rain forced the teams to leave the field. Puducherry returned for another brief stint at the middle, only to lose another wicket and be 92 for eight when the umpires finally decided to call off play as the ground was unfit for further play.

The scores: 3rd day: Hyderabad 435 in 134.5 overs vs Puducherry 92/8 in 34 overs (Anand Bais 41, Punnaiah 3/10, Tanay Thyagarajan 2/41).