Ranji Trophy: Hyderabad stares at innings loss against Mumbai after dismal show on day 3

After finishing the third day at 166 for seven, Hyderabad still trailing by 127 runs in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match

Hyderabad: It was another dismal day for Hyderabad, forced to follow on by Mumbai, as it was staring at an innings defeat as it finished the third day at 166 for seven, still trailing by 127 runs, in the four-day Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Saturday.

Hyderabad, resuming the day at the overnight score of 138 for two in reply to Mumbai’s 560 in the first innings, folded up for 267 despite a defiant knock by G. Rahul Singh (96,164b, 11×4, 1×6) and some handy contributions from K. Himateja (40, 85b, 6×4) and Rohit Rayudu (37, 75b, 5×4, 1×6).

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Mumbai captain Siddhesh Lad’s smart move to move the silly point was moved straighter in the face of Rahul Singh, who has gone into some sort of a shell in the nervous nineties, was just one of the many examples, if needed, of gamesmanship. For, immediately off-spinner Himanshu Singh let one slip through the defensive push of Rahul to the delight of the Mumbai camp.

Not surprisingly, Mumbai ensured that the pressure was constantly building up on the home team with regular strikes after Rahul Singh’s dismissal (165 for five in 53.4 overs).

Hyderabad batting horrors continued in the second essay as the pace trio of Tushar, Mohit and Onkar Tarmale, who substituted for Atharva Ankolekar (who was ruled out of the match after an on-field injury yesterday), looked far better bowlers on the same pitch where the Hyderabad attack struggled.

The highly-rated debutant P. Aman Rao (13) failed to get going again. Abhirath Reddy (20), Rahul Singh (33, 20b, 5×4, 1×6), after some flamboyant strokes including a six over square-leg off Onkar Tarmale, was forced to snick Musheer Khan to the slip fielder. Rohit Rayudu (7), Rahul Radesh (2), and Nitesh Reddy (0) came up with poor stroke selection in the face of disciplined bowling.

Despite a fighting 55-run stand for the seventh wicket between K. Himateja (43, 71b, 6×4) and Chama Milind (30 batting, 42b, 4×4, 1×6), who put up 55 runs for the seventh wicket before the former perished in the dying minutes of the day to make it a truly Mumbai day.

The scores: 3rd day: Mumbai 560 in 123.2 overs vs Hyderabad 267 in 82.2 overs (Rahul Singh 96, K. HImateja 40, Rohit Rayudu 37, Tushar Deshpande 2/68, Himanshu Singh 3/39, Mohit Avasthi 2/54) & 166/7 in 39.3 overs (Rahul Singh 33, K. Himateja 43, Chama Milind 30 batting, Mohit Avasthi 3/31, Musheer Khan 3/38).