HYDERABAD: After an explosive start by Delhi openers, skipper Yash Dhull (72 off 74 balls, 4x16) and Dhruv Shorey (30; 44b, 4x6), Hyderabad bowlers managed to peg back the visitors' charge on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group B league match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday.
Replying to the hosts' 355, Delhi were 223 for 5 at stumps and were still 132 behind. Ayush Badoni was batting on 78 (85 balls, 4x11, 6x2) while Lalit Yadav, who looked uncomfortable throughout his stay, was batting on 7 (43 balls).
The promising 20-year-old Yash Dhull, who led India to victory in the U-19 World Cup last year, attacked the Hyderabad bowlers early in the innings. Both Dhull and Shorey, the top scorer in the Ranji Trophy this season with 836 runs so far, plundered 13 runs from debutant medium-pacer S Praneeth Raj's first over as Delhi raced to 50 in just 10. 4 overs.
The duo's ploy of unsettling the Hyderabad bowlerswith their aggressive batting worked for a while before a momentary lapse cost Shorey his wicket.
He was dismissed by medium-pacer Ajay Dev Goud when Delhi were 83.
Hrithik Shokeen (4 off 10 balls), who survived a close stumping chance of off spinner Aniketh Reddy, did not last long as he departed with the score on 96.
However, Dhull continued his aggressive batting and completed his half century in style with a straight boundary off medium-pacer Goud. He finally departed when he nicked one to wicketkeeper Rahul Radesh off spinner Aniketh Reddy in second over after the tea interval.
Ayush Badoni and Vaibhav Rawal (20 off 43 balls, 4x3) added 57 runs for the fourth wicket before the latter was run out.
Earlier, southpaw Rohit Rayudu, who resumed the day at 90, completed his century with a boundary off medium pacer Pranshu Vijayran and remained unbeaten on 153 (295 balls, 4x14, 6x3). His patient knock ensured Hyderabad a respectable total of 355 as they were all out during the extended play of the morning session.
