Ranji Trophy: Chandigarh bowlers keep Hyderabad in control on Day 1

Jagjit Singh and debutant Rajangad Bawa shared five wickets between them to restrict Hyderabad to 270 for 7 at stumps on the opening day of their Elite Group B first round Ranji Trophy match in Cuttack on Thursday. Off-spinner Gaurav Gambhir also chipped in with a couple of wickets, including the all-important scalp of a well set India’s Test star Hanuma Vihari. Coming in at No.3, Vihari top-scored for Hyderabad with a sedate 59 off 134 balls, comprising eight hits to the fence. Ahead of the contest, Chandigarh handed debut caps to the trio of all-rounder Rajangad Bawa, wicketkeeper-batter Arjit Pannu and middle order batter Gaurav Puri. On a track that promised good carry and bounce for the pacers early on, Chandigarh skipper Manan Vohra put Hyderabad in to bat. Vohra’s decision yielded quick results as Rajangad, brought in as the first change bowler, lived up to his skipper’s trust by removing the Hyderabad openers Tanmay Agarwal and Akshath Reddy after the duo got to decent starts. While skipper Agarwal scored 16 off 45 balls, Akshath got 28 off 56 before Raj got into the cleaning act with Arjit’s safe hands behind the stumps taking care of the rest.

Thereafter, Jagjit Singh joined the party with the wicket of Tilak Varma, who also got to a good start of 32 off 64 deliveries, as Hyderabad neared the three-figure mark by the 36th over. Reduced to 99 for 3, Himalay Agarwal (20) joined Vihari in the middle, and the duo added 51 runs for the fourth wicket before the former fell prey to the off-spinner Gambhir. Vihari soon found himself back in the dressing room to leave Hyderabad reeling at 186 for 5. Prateek Reddy (36) and Telukupalli Ravi Teja (32) joined forces to take the side past the 200-run mark but Jagjit Singh’s