Centuries by opening batsman A Nandakishore and VVS Laxman helpedHyderabad to reach 274 for three shortly before stumps on the openingday of their Ranji Trophy Super League Group B match against Railwaysat the Feroz Shah Kotla grounds in New Delhi

04-Mar-2000Centuries by opening batsman A Nandakishore and VVS Laxman helpedHyderabad to reach 274 for three shortly before stumps on the openingday of their Ranji Trophy Super League Group B match against Railwaysat the Feroz Shah Kotla grounds in New Delhi on Saturday. But in thelast hour, Railways recovered some ground and Hyderabad had to settlefor a closing scorCenturies by opening batsman A Nandakishore and VVS Laxman helpedHyderabad to reach 274 for three shortly before stumps on the openingday of their Ranji Trophy Super League Group B match against Railwaysat the Feroz Shah Kotla grounds in New Delhi on Saturday. But in thelast hour, Railways recovered some ground and Hyderabad had to settlefor a closing score of 309 for eight wickets.Electing to bat, Hyderabad suffered an early reverse when Youraj Singhwas out without a run being scored in the second over of thematch. But a second wicket stand of 186 runs off 44.5 overs betweenNandakishore and Laxman saw Hyderabad quickly take theinitiative. Laxman dominated the partnership and when he was secondout, he had made 109 off 139 balls with 15 hits to the fence in a stayof almost three hours.The momentum was maintained with Nandakishore and Vanka Pratap adding66 runs in 21.3 overs for the third wicket. Pratap was then out for 26but the obdurate Nandakishore carried on till he was fourth out at 274in the 75th over of the day. Playing the sheet anchor role toperfection, he batted almost five hours, faced 223 balls and hit 16fours.Leg spinner WD Balaji Rao then helped Railways come back into thegame. He took three quick wickets to finish the day with four for52. RR Parida also did well in taking three for 106.e of 309 for eight wickets.Electing to bat, Hyderabad suffered an early reverse when Youraj Singhwas out without a run being scored in the second over of thematch. But a second wicket stand of 186 runs off 44.5 overs betweenNandakishore and Laxman saw Hyderabad quickly take theinitiative. Laxman dominated the partnership and when he was secondout, he had made 109 off 139 balls with 15 hits to the fence in a stayof almost three hours.The momentum was maintained with Nandakishore and Vanka Pratap adding66 runs in 21.3 overs for the third wicket. Pratap was then out for 26but the obdurate Nandakishore carried on till he was fourth out at 274in the 75th over of the day. Playing the sheet anchor role toperfection, he batted almost five hours, faced 223 balls and hit 16fours.Leg spinner WD Balaji Rao then helped Railways come back into thegame. He took three quick wickets to finish the day with four for52. RR Parida also did well in taking three for 106.