Visakhapatnam, Nov. 20: Andhra took a crucial 12-run lead over Maharashtra in the drawn Ranji Trophy Plate division league match played at the Dr YSR ACA- VDCA Stadium, here on Saturday.
In reply to Maharashtra’s first innings’ total of 368, Andhra made 380 for 7, courtesy a patient 117 from Satyakumar Varma. His 274-ball essay contained 11 boundaries and a solitary six.
Opener Hemal Watekar too contributed with a gritty 98 off 330 deliveries. Other contributions came in the form of Y. Venugopal Rao (53), B. Sumanth (42) and A.G. Pradeep (23).
For the bowling side, Shrikant Mundhe was the pick of the lot, scalping five wickets while conceding 74 runs. Sangram Atitkar (1 for 10) and Samad Fallah (1 for 79) were the others who shone with the ball.
Andhra scored three points for gaining the first innings lead while Maharashtra bagged a solitary points for their efforts.
Brief scores: Maharashtra 368 (Harshad Khadiwale 183, Rohit Motwani 93; G. Shankara Rao 3 for 105) drew with Andhra 380 for 7 (Satyakumar Varma 117, Hemal Watekar 98, Y. Venugopal Rao 53, B. Sumanth 42; Shrikant Mundhe 5 for 74).
Ranji round up
* Karnataka 222 & 409/8 (Amit Verma 103, K.B. Pawan 80) drew with Haryana 319.
* Bengal 562/6 decl. drew with Assam 588/6 (Sridharan Sriram 146, Gokul Sharma 101).
v Himachal Pradesh 473 drew with Punjab 229 & 285/4 (R. Inder Singh 129).
* Tamil Nadu 582/4 decl. and 30/1 drew with Saurashtra 492 (Shitanshu Kotak 99, Sagar Jogiyani 93).
* Gujarat 71 and 289/9 (Priyank Panchal 134, Jay Desai 49; Vikas Mishra 4/51) drew with Delhi 437/6 decl.