Hyderabad in Under-23 Elite band!

Hyderabad: The rising junior cricketers from Hyderabad set forth an invaluable example to their seniors. Even though the Hyderabad Ranji team has been caught in the throes of disaster for quite a few seasons now, the juniors on Thursday achieved what the senior have been trying to for long-qualifying for the Elite category which they managed after win over Jharkhand at Gymkhana Ground here.

The seniors are still groping in the dark in the Plate section. Md Siraj’s four-wicket haul helped Hyderabad enter the Elite Group by making it to the quarterfinal of the Col CK Nayudu trophy on the basis of its first inning lead against Jharkhand in the Plate group semifinal. Hyderabad will meet Madhya Pradesh to be played here from February 10 to 13.

Replying to Hyderabad 461 runs, Jharkhand, which began on a grand note, was bowled out for 359 on the fourth and last day. Jharkhand added 125 runs and lost six wickets to their overnight score of 234 for four. Babul Kumar scored 94 runs in 228 balls with 12 fours. Ankit contributed 46 runs.

For Hyderabad medium pacer Siraj took four wickets for 87 runs while lanky medium pacer CV Milind and Tanay Tyagarajan scalped two wickets each. At stumps Hyderabad scores 114 runs for the loss of one wicket.

Brief scores: Hyderabad 461 & 114 for 1(Jaweed Ali 57, K Rohit Rayudu 34no) Drew with Jharkhand 359 (Babul Kumar 94, Ankit Dabas 46, Md Siraj 4/87, CV Milind 2/55, Tanay Tyagarajan 2/60).