Buchi Babu: Rithik and Mohammed’s stand revives TNCA President’s XI

TNCA President’s XI rally to 291/6 against Hyderabad in Buchi Babu semifinal with Rithik Easwaran and Mohammed’s partnership.

S. Rithik Easwaran (83 batting, 115b, 6x4, 2x6) and M. Mohammed (41 batting, 73b, 5x4) were involved in an unbroken 91-run seventh-wicket partnership as TNCA President’s XI rallied to post 291 for six after a middle-order wobble against Hyderabad on day two of the Buchi Babu semifinal in Tirunelveli on Tuesday (September 3, 2024).

Left-arm spinner Tanay Thyagarajan’s four for 78 gave the Hyderabad side the advantage before Rithik and Mohammed stepped in.

Earlier, openers S. Radhakrishnan and R. Vimal Khumar (75, 174b, 6x4, 1x6) got the team off to a decent start. Tanay dismissed Radhakrishnan, who top-edged a pull to the wicketkeeper, in the 19th over with the score at 46.

Vimal and K.T.A. Madhava Prasad (40, 89b, 6x4) showed composure while handling the Hyderabad pacers; the spinners, too, were dealt with confidence as they steered their side to 121 at lunch without any further loss.

In the second session, C.V. Milind provided the spark in shifting the momentum the visitors’ way. In the 49th over, the left-arm pacer removed Madhava Prasad, breaking the 94-run second-wicket alliance. Tanay then took over sending back Vimal with a delivery pitched on the rough, the sweep shot landing in the gloves of the ’keeper in the 56th over.

Between overs 56 and 66, President’s XI, which had been in a strong position at 160 for three, slumped to 200 for six. As the left-arm tweaker accounted for Andre Siddharth and A. Badrinath cheaply. The other left-arm spinner, Aniket Reddy, had S. Mohammed Ali stumped with a well-flighted delivery.

An interesting day three awaits as President’s XI will look to wipe out the 22-run deficit and put the pressure back on Hyderabad.