A massive 305 run first wicket partnership between T Suman (169) and P Shashank Nag (141) put Hyderabad in a formidable position on the first day of their Cooch Behar Trophy South Zone League match against Kerala at the Gymkhana Ground on Sunday. The stand helped Hyderabad to a score of 345 for 3 at close of play.

Winning the toss the Kerala skipper M Vipin Lal put Hyderabad into bat but he was in for a shocker as the Hyderabad openers took hold of the proceedings. Both Suman and Shashank Nag were unstoppable right from the start and brought up the 100 before the lunch interval. Suman, who scored his third century of the tournament, was more severe on the Kerala attack while plundering 20 boundaries during his 310 minute stay at the crease.

The post Lunch session saw the two going from strength to strength and before long took the team score past the 200 run mark. The Kerala skipper was probably bereft of ideas and tried all his might to break the partnership. The spinners especially bore the brunt of the openers bats so much so that Aneesh Kumar and Sooraj went for 185 runs between themselves. Shashank Nag was not far behind and matched his partner in pacing his innings. During his 348 ball stay he managed to find the ropes 8 times while clearing it on five occations.

Kerala bowlers found their first success in the form of Suman only in the post Tea session when he was caught at deep extra cover by sujit off Sooraj in the 77th over of the innings. His partner Shashank Nag departed seven balls later, being caught at deep mid wicket by Sooraj of Aneesh. The new bat Arjan Yadav offered a return catch to Aneesh in the 88th over. AT Rayudu (15) and Ibrahim Khaleel (6) safely negociated the end overs and made sure of no further casualities for Hyderabad.

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