Ranji Trophy 2023-24 Quarterfinals: Madhya Pradesh begins strongly earlier than Andhra strikes again on day one

Everything appeared to be favouring Madhya Pradesh within the first session of its Ranji Trophy quarterfinal opening day towards Andhra. It received the toss, opted to bat and rode on a 123-run opening partnership between Yash Dubey (64, 133b; 7×4, 1×6) and Himanshu Mantri (49, 97b, 4×4, 1×6) to be in a cushty place.

However, issues took a dramatic flip publish lunch as Andhra pacers KV Sasikanth (4 for 37) and Okay Nithish Kumar Reddy (3 for 50) ripped aside the middle-order. From being within the driver’s seat at 123 for 0, MP was reeling at 165 for 7 – dropping seven wickets for simply 42 runs – earlier than ending the day at 234 for 9.

On a Holkar Stadium floor that originally aided the bowlers, Dubey and Mantri made probably the most of a few reprieves to get off to a gentle begin. However, Nithish and Sasikanth banked on correct line and size to carry Andhra again into the sport. Opener Mantri missed out on his seventh First Class half-century by a run as he was caught behind the stumps by younger wicketkeeper Revanth Reddy off a shifting Sasikanth supply.

In the passage of play, MP’s batting collapsed. Venkatesh Iyer – the top-scorer for the crew – wanted to forge a partnership, however he lasted for 4 deliveries earlier than stepping out of the crease and trying an enormous one off Girinath Reddy. However, he was caught at deep level by Nithish.

While a pall of gloom descended on the MP dressing room, Nithish introduced extra pleasure to the Andhra camp by dismissing Harsh Gawali and Anubhav Agarwal in two consecutive deliveries.

Breaching the 200-run mark regarded tough earlier than Saransh Jain and Kumar Kartikeya added 51 runs for the eighth wicket. Though Kartikeya was caught behind off a Sasikanth supply on the fag finish, that partnership spared MP the blushes.