AP take 103-run first innings lead

Hosts Andhra took a vital 103-run first innings lead over Goa on the third day of their South Zone Ranji Trophy match in Vijayawada on Tuesday.

At close, Goa were tottering on 57 for six in their second innings, with Kiran Pawar batting on 28 and Shadab Jakati on 1.

The visitors started disastrously in their second innings and lost four wickets, including that of first innings centurian Tanveer Jabbar with just 32 runs on the board.

R V Ch Prasad was the wrecker-in-chief for Andhra, claiming three wickets, while K Shahabuddin bagged two.

Earlier, resuming at their overnight score of 184 for one, Andhra declared their first innings at 373 for nine wickets at tea.

Captain M S K Prasad top-scored with 96 runs while I Srinivas (52) and R V Ch Prasad (62) also contributed to the team's total.

For Goa, Syed Khalid took three wickets while Jakati, Aware and Kalekar claimed two wickets each.

Kerala need 327 runs for outright win

Anirudh Singh's solid 124 (16 fours) enabled Hyderabad declare their second innings at 334 for 9 and set Kerala a target of 327 runs for an outright win in the South Zone Ranji Trophy cricket league match in Kochi on Tuesday.

Play ended early due to bad light and at close on the penultimate day of the four-day match, Kerala were 10 for no loss, with Varun Girilal batting on seven and M K Sorab on one.

After the match was called off for the day, there was a slight drizzle.

Earlier, Hyderabad, overnight 124 for two, declared their second innings at 334 for nine in 131.5 overs. Kerala spinner Suresh Kumar bagged four wickets for 115 runs. He was ably assisted by another spinner Sreekumaran Nair who took 2 wickets for 70 runs.

Brief scores:
Hyderabad (Ist innings) 117 all out
Kerala (Ist innings) 125 all out
Hyderabad (second innings) 334 for 9 declared in 131.5 overs. (Daniel Manohar 29, Nandakishore 44, Anirudh singh 124, Venka Pratap 25, M Srinivas 29, Ghouse Baba 29; Suresh Kumar 4/115)
Kerala (2nd innings): 10 for no loss.

TN takes huge first innings lead

A brilliant unbeaten 125 by Vijay R Bharadwaj helped Karnataka to 233 for three in their second innings after conceding a 253-run first innings lead to Tamil Nadu on the penultimate day of the South zone Ranji Trophy league match in Bangalore on Tuesday.

At stumps, V S Thilak Naidu was batting on eight, with Karnataka still trailing by 20 runs.

Bharadwaj has so far hit 22 fours in his 12th Ranji century. His swashbuckling 160-ball knock also saw him get a life when he was dropped by Sriram off Balaji when on 64.

Earlier, Tamil Nadu, resuming at the overnight score of 357 for five, added another 111 runs before they were all out for 468 just before lunch.

Tamil Nadu skipper Robin Singh scored 58 and for Karnataka Mansor Ali Khan took five wickets for 81.

It was a frustrating start for Karnataka in the second knock as both the openers were dismissed cheaply by M R Shrinivas. Arun Kumar was out for one and Mithun Beerala for 14 with the home side's score on 16.

But, a 202-run partnership for the third wicket between Vijay Bharadwaj and Roland Barrington (69) bailed out the visitors.

Brief scores:
Karnataka 215 and 233 for three (Vijay Bharadwaj 125 batting, Barrington Rowland 69).
Tamil Nadu 468 (Hemanth Kumar 50, Hemang Badani 124, S Sharath 113, Robin Singh 58, Mansoor Ali Khan 5/81, N C Aiyappa 3/99).

Mail Cricket Editor