Bodapati Sumanth scored a brilliant century (103, 193b, 16x4, 1x6), his second in first class cricket, and forged an unbeaten 158-run fourth wicket partnership with A.G. Pradeep (54, 161b, 4x4) to help Andhra finish at 175 for three at the end of the third day's play in the Ranji Trophy Plate Group ‘B' match at RDT grounds here on Friday.
Andhra, which took the first innings lead of 18 runs, is ahead with 193 runs with seven wickets intact.
Sumanth, the former India under-19 player, pulled his team out of the woods as he played an innings mixed with caution and aggression.
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Andhra was in deep trouble when the first three wickets fell for just 17 runs on the board. Sumanth and Pradeep played with responsibility. Sumanth played his natural game by scoring runs through boundaries and hoisted a huge six off left-arm spinner Amrinder Singh. He was ably supported by A.G. Pradeep.
Andhra had a wobbly start to its second innings with top three batsmen making a swift exit in first nine overs. Both L.N. Prasad Reddy and A.S.K. Varma chased wide deliveries and were caught and Watekar got a dubious verdict.
Earlier, resuming at 187 for seven, Services tail-enders waged a gallant battle against Andhra pacers but fell short of 18 runs from getting past the first innings total. Pacers Shahabuddin and Vijay Kumar removed the last three wickets.
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The scores:
Andhra — 1st innings: 229.
Services — 1st innings: P. Desai b Shahabuddin 0, S. Singh c Manoj b Vijay Kumar 20, Jasvir c Sumanth b Kalyan 21, Soumyaranjan c Manoj b Gnaneswara 71, Yashpal c Manoj b Kalyan 37, Vishnu c Manoj b Kalyan 0, Sarabjit c Pradeep b Gnaneswara 8, Irfan b Vijay 11, Amrinder (not out) 19, Suraj c (sub) Lenin b Shahabuddin 10, Nishan c Manoj b Shahabuddin 0, Extras (b-6, lb-3, nb-4, w-1): 14; Total (in 109 overs) 211.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-34, 3-58, 4-129, 5-129, 6-162, 7-163, 8-194, 9-209.
Andhra bowling: Shahabuddin 34-15-63-3, Kalyan 24-8-47-3, Vijay 32-9-56-2, Sankar 9-1-19-0, Gnaneswara 8-4-8-2, Watekar 2-0-9-0.
Andhra — 2nd innings: H. Watekar c Sarabjit b Nishan 10, Prasad Reddy c Jasvir b Suraj 5, A.S.K. Varma c Yashpal b Suraj 2, Sumanth (batting) 103, Pradeep (batting) 54, Extras (w-1): 1; Total (for three wkts. in 67 overs): 175.
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-17, 3-17.
Services bowling: Suraj 18-3-43-2, Nishan 17-3-43-1, Irfan 8-2-35-0, Sumit 1-0-5-0, Amrinder 16-1-41-0, Yashpal 5-1-7-0, Pratik 2-1-1-0.