Shillong (Meghalaya) , Feb 17: Meghalaya put in a sterling effort with the bat to post 304 all out in their first innings on the first day of the Ranji Trophy Plate Group final against Hyderabad at the latter’s home ground, the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, today.
At stumps, Hyderabad was 25/2, trailing by 279 runs.
Meghalaya won the toss of the historic final and batted first. Raj Biswa top-scored with a rollicking 64, while Akash Kumar Choudhury hit an unbeaten 50.
There were contributions up and down the batting order, though, as Meghalaya put their best foot forward against a top side.
Raj hit his runs in just 48 deliveries, with nine fours and three sixes. He was given excellent company in an 81-run opening stand with Arien Bonchang Sangma (18 from 35 balls).
Swarajeet Das made 31 at No. 3, while Kishan Lyngdoh (29), Jaskirat Singh Sachdeva (46) and Dippu Sangma (42) contributed valuable runs.
Jaskirat and Dippu added 87 for the seventh wicket but both were, unfortunately, dismissed before they could reach their half-centuries.
Akash, though, had no such issue, swatting the Hyderabad bowlers for four fours and four sixes in his 57-ball 50 not out. The tailender was able to get to his milestone – his maiden Ranji fifty – just in time before he ran out of partners, with Hyderabad’s Tanay Thyagarajan claiming the last wicket to finish with figures of 5/103.
There were just 8 overs left in the day for the hosts to face and they were dealt a couple of blows with two wickets to fall, both to Chengkam Sangma, who opened the bowling in what is his second Ranji match of the season. He finished with 2/9 in 3 overs and Meghalaya will want to use the new ball well tomorrow morning to peg Hyderabad back even further.
