Hyderabad Clinches Buchi Babu Title with Dominant Win over Chhattisgarh
Hyderabad emerged victorious in the Buchi Babu tournament, securing a resounding 243-run triumph over Chhattisgarh in the summit clash at the NPR College Ground. The Rahul Singh-led side had already established a crucial first-innings lead, setting Chhattisgarh an improbable target of 518 in 90 overs.
Chhattisgarh’s openers, Ayush Pandey and Shashank Chandrakar, provided a spirited start, stitching together a 100-run partnership off just 103 balls. Pandey, in particular, showcased his prowess with a brilliant century, smashing 13 fours and 3 sixes in his 134-ball knock. Chandrakar also contributed with a brisk 50, hitting 6 fours and 2 sixes.
However, Hyderabad’s spinners proved to be the match-winners. Left-arm spinner Tanay Thyagarajan was the chief destroyer, claiming five wickets for 61 runs. His persistent bowling kept chipping away at Chhattisgarh’s batting lineup, despite the runs flowing at a brisk pace.
Chhattisgarh managed to reach 194 for five in the action-packed first session, but Hyderabad’s spinners tightened their grip post-lunch. Pandey eventually reached his landmark, but his dismissal signaled the end of Chhattisgarh’s resistance. Hyderabad’s spinners wrapped things up just before tea, securing a comprehensive victory.
Hyderabad skipper Rahul Singh hailed the win as a morale-booster ahead of the team’s return to the Elite Group for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season. “We wanted to play aggressive cricket and did it throughout the tournament,” said Singh. “We did that in the Plate group last year, which was a bit easy, but we played against some good teams here.”
Hyderabad took home a prize of ₹three lakh, while Chhattisgarh received ₹two lakh.