Ranji Trophy: Naushad’s unbeaten 145 keeps Maharashtra in driving seat against Hyderabad

Naushad Shaikh cracked his seventh first-class century (145 batting, 219b, 20×4) in his thirty fourth match to assist Maharashtra rating a difficult 353 for 5 towards Hyderabad at shut of play on the primary day of the four-day Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match at MCA Stadium right here on Tuesday.

As has been the development with Hyderabad captain Tanmay Agarwal this season, Maharashtra was put in to bat first.

Initially, it appeared value of venture when pacer T. Ravi Teja trapped Ruturaj Gaikwad (8) lbw within the third over and his new-ball companion, Kartikeya Kak, pressured Saurabh Nawale (29) to provide a catch to Rahul Radesh within the eighth over to go away the house group at 48 for 2.

But to the captain’s dismay, Hyderabad bowlers ran right into a cussed No.3 batter Naushad who strung collectively two century partnerships to dent Hyderabad’s hopes of coming again into the sport on the primary day.

Naushad first joined palms with Kedar Jadhav (71, 92b, 9×4, 1×6) to placed on 128 runs off 174 balls for the third wicket after which added an unbroken 121-run stand off 193 balls for the sixth wicket with Ashay Palkar (61 batting, 115b, 9×4) to nearly push Hyderabad on the backfoot.

But for the three-wicket haul by pacer Kak, who removed Jadhav and later Azim Kazi (11), it might have been a extra pitiable story for Hyderabad bowlers.

Pacer B. Punnaiah and left-arm spinner Aniketh Reddy, who claimed a seven-wicket haul within the earlier recreation towards Saurashtra, went wicketless.