In a one-sided affair at Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh overwhelmed Vidarbha by 8 wickets in the Ranji Trophy, powered by Sheikh Rashid’s unbeaten 132. The clinical chase of 259 runs underscored Andhra’s superiority.
Andhra’s pursuit started poorly, Abhishek Reddy dismissed for 11 with score on 15. Recovery came via S Bharat and Rashid’s 99-run stand. Bharat scored 43 before perishing.
Ricky Bhui’s arrival sparked joy—the duo’s 145-run partnership remained intact till the end. Rashid’s elegant 132 off 144 balls included 21 fours. Bhui’s 64* boasted 7 boundaries and 2 maximums.
Nachiket Bhute grabbed the two wickets for Vidarbha. Recap: Toss winners Vidarbha scored 295/10, driven by Yash Rathod’s 115. Andhra’s 228 gave foes a 67-run edge.
Vidarbha managed 191 in their second outing, targeting 259. Andhra cruised home. Crucially, Vidarbha’s 16-match first-class unbeaten sequence ends, first loss after 2023/24 final.
Andhra’s victory injects momentum, with Rashid emerging as a key player to watch in upcoming fixtures.