Vihari’s triple ton deflates Odisha, propels Andhra to 584

Vizianagaram: The match between Andhra and Odisha has seen a run feast. The pitch was a batting beauty as Andhra captain Hanuma Vihari (302*) slammed his maiden triple-hundred in Vizianagaram. Andhra propelled to 584 for 5 before declaring their innings.

Resuming on 278 for 2, Vihari put on a 208-run stand with Ricky Bhui (100) and deflated weak looking Odisha, who had to wait 43.3 overs for their first wicket of the day. During the course of his 456-ball knock, Vihari smashed 29 fours and two sixes and added 159 to his overnight score. This was Vihari’s 13th first-class ton and second consecutive score of 150 or more.

Bhui, meanwhile, brought up his fourth first-class hundred before Odisha captain Govinda Poddar trapped him lbw in the 134th over. In the next over, seamer Suryakant Pradhan dismissed D Ravi Teja to pick up his second wicket, but nothing was going to stop Vihari’s march. Odisha suffered an early jolt in their first innings when left-arm spinner Bhargav Bhatt had opener Natraj Behera lbw in the fourth over. Sandeep Pattanaik and Poddar, however, ensured there was no further damage as Odisha went to stumps at 32 for 1.