Moin-Ud-Dowlah Gold Cup: Winning start for HCA XI

Hyderabad: Team HCA XI began their campaign on a winning note against Andhra Colts in their Round 1, Group ‘A’ match at ECIL as P. Akshath Reddy and D.B. Ravi Teja scored centuries for their respective sides in the All India Coromandel Moin-Ud-Dowlah Gold Cup cricket tournament that began in the city on Tuesday.

Invited to bat first, HCA XI batters made maximum use of the pitch and posted 305 for the loss of five wickets in 50 overs against Andhra Colts as Akshath hit 113 from 109 deliveries which comprised seven boundaries and five maximums. Southpaw Tanmay Agarwal (88) too displayed some fine class on the ground but missed his century by 12 runs. Ambati Rayudu too chipped in with 63.

In reply, Andhra’s Ravi Teja (113 not out) stood firm at one end. However, none of the other batters contributed much as M. Ravi Kiran, C.V. Milind, Mehdi Hasan and Akash Bhandari together breached the batting wall of Andhra by picking two wickets each to restrict them to 225 for 9 in 50 overs. The 80-run victory fetched Hyderabad four points.

In a Group ‘B’ match at the Gymkhana ground, HCA President’s XI lost to Kerala after they failed to defend their modest 231. Kerala bagged four points while President’s XI returned blank.

Put to bat, President’s XI could not put up a strong total as Rabin Krishna picked three wickets while giving away 34 runs. Mir Jaweed Ali, with 53, was the top scorer for home side.

In second half, President’s Praneeth Reddy and Tanay Thyagarajan managed to divide four wickets equally but their efforts went in vain as Kerala’s Fabin Farook Ahmed (89*) and Rohan Kunnummel (74) guided the visiting side to a four-wicket victory with 4.2 overs left.