Vizianagaram: Andhra Pradesh skipper Hanuma Vihari (302 n o, 456b, 29×4, 2×6) slammed his maiden triple ton to put the hosts in the driving seat against Orissa at stumps on day two of the four-day Ranji Trophy Group-C game here Wednesday.
Vihari with his highest first class score propelled his team to 584 for five, before declaring. Resuming from their overnight score of 278 for two, Vihari put on a 208-run stand with Rickey Bhui (100, 144b, 9×4, 5×6) and continued to torment Orissa bowlers. The visitors had to wait 43.3 overs for their first wicket of the day. Vihari dominated the innings completely and added 159 to his overnight score. This was also Vihari’s 13th first-class ton and second consecutive score of 150 or more.
Bhui brought up his fourth first-class hundred before Orissa skipper Govind Poddar (1/102) trapped him lbw in the 134th over. In the next over, seamer Suryakant Pradhan (2/106) dismissed D Ravi Teja (1) to pick up his second wicket, but nothing was going to stop Vihari’s march.
To make matter worst, Orissa suffered an early jolt in their first innings. Opener and comeback man Natraj Behera (4) was found plumb in front against Bhargav Bhatt (1/12) in the fourth over. Rookie opener Sandeep Patnaik (14 batting) and dependable Poddar (14 batting) ensured that there were no further hiccups.
Brief scores: Andhra Pradesh 584/5 decl (Hanuma Vihari 302 n o, Ricky Bhui 100; Suryakant Pradhan 2/106); Orissa 32/1 (Sandeep Patnaik 14 batting, Govind Poddar 14 batting; against Bhargav Bhatt 1/12). Match to continue.
Other Group C matches
(At Mumbai): Mumbai 374 (Akash Parkar 33 n o; Vijay Shankar 4/52); Tamil Nadu 239/5 (Baba Indrajith 105 batting, Washington Sundar 69; Vijay Gohli 2/58).
(At Agartala): Tripura 205 (Bishal Ghosh 65, Gurinder Singh 57; Ankit Sharma 3/61); Madhya Pradesh 200/7 (Rajat Patidar 79, Harpreet Singh 69; Rana Dutta 2/25).
All matches to continue Thursday.
