Mumbai: Ambati Rayudu scored a terrific century on the fourth day of the Irani trophy and guided Rest of India (RoI) to take a massive lead of 413 runs against Mumbai at Brabourne Stadium on Saturday. Rest of India (RoI) managed to put on 296 runs for the loss of four wickets in their second innings.
Rayudu remained unbeaten on 118 at the end of day’s play and assured that RoI will lift the Irani trophy for the 25th time.
In the four days’ play, Rayudu has displayed a contrast in his batting style. He had played well in the first innings and had managed to get good 51 runs. The highlight of his batting in first innings was his aggressive batting which demoralized the Mumbai bowlers. But in the second innings he looked a completely different player. Rather than going for shots, he understood the situation very well and gave stability to the team by playing a steady knock. During his 217-ball unbeaten knock, Rayudu hit nine fours and four sixes --- all of them being straight lofts. This was his 14th century in first-class cricket.
Rayudu added 140 runs for the fourth wicket with Manoj Tiwary, who hit a fantastic 69. First inning centurion, Suresh Raina too is looking in a brilliant touch and is heading towards a big score and is batting on 40.
The only interest on the fifth and final day will be whether national selectors recall Raina in the Test squad or try something out of the box by selecting Rayudu, who has also already showed his capability in this match.
Morning season started at the overnight score of 27 for one. RoI opener Murali Vijay and Night-watchman S Sreesanth struggled because of the seam movement that Mumbai bowlers were getting from the pitch and off the air.
S Sreesanth got run out at the score of 18 runs by a direct hit from cover point fielder Rohit Sharma. He responded to a call for a sharp single from partner M Vijay but was beaten by an agile throw from Rohit. Vijay, who scored a brilliant century in the first innings, struggled against Dhawal Kulkarni and Shardul Thakur. Thakur very soon got him out by bowling an out-swinger on which Vijay drove on the up only to offer a simple catch to Rohit as Rest were reduced to 67 for three.
Rayudu together with Tiwary, who looked scratchy in the initial stage, somehow survived the difficult phase, the Bengal batsman grew in confidence as the pitch eased out and with ball getting older, and bowlers lost their sting.
Rayudu was the more aggressive player in the fifth wicket century partnership that steadied the rocking boat. Both played freely against the spinners, when they were brought into the attack, and smashed them for boundaries and sixes to increase the pace of the innings. Rayudu used his feet very well to negotiate the spinners after playing cautiously against the new ball bowlers in the morning when conditions were in favour of the bowlers.
The duo accelerated in the second session after they played defensively in the first session and they added 108 runs in 34 overs. They reached their individual 50s in a short span of each other, with Rayudu taking only 93 balls as compared to his partner's 135 in reaching the minor landmark.
Tiwary, unbeaten on 66 at tea, in a score of 200 for 3, departed soon after the play started, top-edging left-arm spinner Vishal Dabholkar to Wasim Jaffer who ran around from first slip to leg slip completing an easy catch. Tiwary faced 166 balls in his 211-minute innings in which he struck three sixes and five fours.
Rayudu was joined by Raina, who started punishing the bowlers from the very first ball, as the fifth wicket pair carried Rest to a position from where they cannot lose. They have added 89 runs in 136 balls before stumps.
By Indian Sports News Network
