Riding on a superb ton by skipper Mohammad Kaif and a half-century by Ricky Bhui, Andhra took a solid 159-run first innings lead before reducing Tripura to 13 for three in their second innings on day two of their Ranji Trophy Group C cricket match here today.
Starting the day on 97 for four, the overnight batsmen -- Kaif, resuming on 40, and Bhui, on 11 -- frustrated the Tripura bowling attack and helped the team score 310 all out in their first essay.
The fifth wicket duo, which joined forces yesterday, put on a massive stand of 194 runs to not just overhaul the visitors' first innings total of 151, but also take the team past 250 runs.
While Kaif took 240 balls for his 109 that included 16 hits to the fence and a six, Bhui's 87 came off 197 deliveries, studded with 12 fours.
After Kaif and Bhui's dismissals in quick secession, none of the lower order batsmen could sustain for long as the next four wickets fell for 43 runs.
Tripura's Manisankar Murasingh (5/70) ended with five wickets.
Trailing by 159 runs, Tripura lost three wickets in just 9.1 overs with Abhijit Dey (0) at the crease when the stumps were drawn.
D Siva Kumar took two wickets by giving away just four runs in his 4.1 overs today.
Tripura need 146 more runs with seven wickets remaining to avoid innings defeat.
Brief scores:
Tripura: 151 & 13 for three in 9.1 overs (D Siva Kumar 2/04, DP Vijaykumar 1/08).
Andhra: 310 all out in 98.5 overs (Mohammad Kaif 109, Ricky Bhui 87; Manisankar Murasingh 5/70).
