Former Pakistani all-rounder Abdul Razzaq hit an unbeaten 78 and took three wickets to lead Hyderabad Heroes to a seven-run victory over Mumbai Champs in an ICL Twenty20 match in Hyderabad on Monday.
Electing to bat, Heroes scored 176 for two and then restricted Champs to 169 for nine in their quota of 20 overs.
Raviraj Patil (51) and Robin Morris (56) hit blazing half-centuries to keep Champs in contention but failed to win the match.
Once Patil was trapped before the wicket by Chris Harris, Champs found it difficult to control the soaring required run-rate.
Patil hit six boundaries and three sixes in his 27-ball knock.
Morris played a brilliant innings when chips were down for the Champs and raised hopes of his side's sensational win.
However he was dismissed by Razzaq (3/31) in the final over, ending all hopes.
Earlier, Razzaq played a scintillating knock, which was studded with nine boundaries and two shots over the fence.
Rayudu, who came to the crease at the fall of opener J Maher (26), also played brilliantly for his 55-run knock, which came with the help of six boundaries and two sixes.
Razzaq and Rayudu shared a 121-run stand for the second wicket to lay foundation for a big total.
Rival skipper Nathan Astle used as many as eight bowlers but nothing worked for them as both Razzaq and Rayudu scored freely and plundered runs at will.
Razzaq was declared the man of the match.
Brief scores: Hyderabad Heroes 176/2 (Razzaq 78, Rayudu 55, Iyer 1/25) win by 7 runs against Mumbai Champs 169/9 (R Patil 51, Morris56, Razzaq 3/31)
