The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Laxman, Quadri in record partnership

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Laxman, Quadri in record partnership

Principal Correspondent

— Photo: K. Ramesh Babu

GUIDING FORCE: Hyderabad skipper V.V.S. Laxman (left) scored a double century and inspired younger partner Ahmed Quadri notch up his maiden Ranji century.

HYDERABAD: The diminutive 25-year-old Ahmed Quadri, inspired by the presence of V.V.S. Laxman at the other end, notched up his maiden Ranji century. His captain scored 224 (360b, 21x4) as Hyderabad posted a mammoth 553 for six declared against Rajasthan, on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Super League Group ‘A’ match at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Monday.

For the second day running, the Rajasthan bowlers were at the receiving end. Laxman was determined to bat through the day and in the process had a soothing effect on his younger partner Quadri.

Brilliant knock

Quadri responded with a brilliant century (100 not out, 198b, 7x4) in his third match, with some well-executed cover-drives, both off pace and spin.

Combining defence with aggression, he made the most of the opportunity of playing alongside Laxman as the two added a record 215 runs for the sixth wicket, eclipsing the previous best of 205 between Arshad Ayub and Ehthesham Ali Khan against Kerala in 1989.

Laxman was not at his best and as the day progressed was content to play the waiting game. He even batted with a runner after the tea break because of a bruise in the right heel. In the process, Laxman completed his 22nd Ranji century.

There was just one lapse in concentration; when on 119, the Hyderabad skipper’s intended lofted shot off left-arm spinner Gajendra Singh was grassed at mid-on. Laxman delayed the declaration to help Quadri reach his century.

Rajasthan captain Venugopala Rao shuffled his bowlers around on a pitch which offered little assistance. Fast bowlers Pankaj Singh and Sumit Mathur picked up two wickets apiece.

At stumps, Rajasthan was 25 for no loss in eight overs.

The scores:

Hyderabad — 1st innings: T. Suman c Gajendra b Pankaj 50, D.B. Ravi Teja b Mathur 32, S. Anoop Pai c Venu b Gajendra 85, V.V.S. Laxman c Venu b Mathur 224, N. Arjun Yadav c Doru b Pankaj 6, Abhinav Kumar c Doru b Shailender 20, A. Quadri (not out) 100, M. P. Arjun (not out) 21; Extras (b-8, lb-2, w-3, nb-2): 15; Total (for six wkts. decl. in 169.3 overs): 553.

Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-106, 3-241, 4-274, 5-304, 6-519.

Rajasthan bowling: Pankaj 33-6-111-2, Shailender 34-4-102-1, Mathur 33-3-115-2, Gajendra 46-5-145-1, Venu 18.3-3-56-0, Vineet 1-1-0-0, Bisht 3-0-9-0, Deshpandey 1-0-5-0.

Rajasthan — 1st innings: V. Saxena (batting) 13, G. Khoda (batting) 12; Total (for no loss in eight overs): 25.

Hyderabad bowling: Shoaib 3-1-4-0, M.P. Arjun 1-1-0-0, Lalith 3-0-20-0, Ashwin 1-0-1-0.

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