Hyderabad secured a dominant victory against Chhattisgarh, winning by 243 runs in the final of the Take Sports-All India Buchi Babu Tournament at the NPR College Ground on Wednesday. The Rahul Singh-led team entered the final day with a strong position, having already taken the first-innings lead and set an imposing target of 518 in 90 overs.
Chhattisgarh’s openers, Ayush Pandey and Shashank Chandrakar, fought back fiercely. Pandey’s outstanding century (117 off 134 balls) and Chandrakar’s quick-fire half-century (50 off 45 balls) gave Chhattisgarh a strong start. The duo shared a 100-run opening partnership in just 103 balls, putting pressure on Hyderabad’s bowlers early in the innings.
Chandrakar set the tone early by attacking Hyderabad pacer Kartikeya Kak, hitting two consecutive boundaries followed by a six. Pandey soon joined in, sweeping the spinners and charging left-arm spinner Aniketh Reddy for three sixes. Their aggressive approach helped Chhattisgarh reach 194 for five by the end of the 34-over first session.
Despite the attacking display from the Chhattisgarh openers, Hyderabad’s left-arm spinner Tanay Thyagarajan made crucial breakthroughs, finishing with impressive figures of five for 61. His persistence, along with the support of the other spinners, helped Hyderabad break through Chhattisgarh’s batting order.
Pandey continued to fight after lunch, reaching his century, but the Hyderabad spinners took full advantage of a turning pitch. They wrapped up the match just before tea, sealing a comprehensive win.
Hyderabad coach Abhijit Chatterjee praised the team’s performance, noting the importance of the tournament in preparation for the upcoming season. Skipper Rahul Singh added that the win was a morale-booster ahead of their return to the Elite Group, especially after facing tough opponents in the tournament.
Singh highlighted the significance of their semifinal comeback against Tamil Nadu, emphasizing the need to win from difficult situations, which they may face in the Ranji Trophy.
