Hyderabad beat Assam by an innings and 56 runs to log full five points and book a berth in the semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy cricket competition.

Put in to bat, the hosts had piled up 340 runs and bowled the visitors out for 158 in the first innings. Assam in course of follow-on, were all out for 126 after lunch on Sunday to give Hyderabad a resounding win on the penultimate day.

The home team, rejuvenated by the presence of V V S Laxman [Images], also picked an extra bonus point in this match by virtue of the overwhelming margin of victory and now leads the Elite Group 'B' table with 17 points.

Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Baroda and Tamil Nadu are the other contenders for the second place from the group.

In the league round, Hyderabad had beaten Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Assam while losing to Tamil Nadu and Baroda.

Resuming with an arrear of 176 runs, Assam batsmen showed determination in the morning session with R Satish scoring a resolute half century and adding 77 runs for the third wicket with Zakiria Jaffri (25).

Satish was brilliantly stumped by keeper Ibrahim Khaleel while Indrasekhar Reddy continued to impress with his quickfire knock of 56 from 63 balls inclusive of nine fours and one six.

Jaffri and Sarvanan (12) perished soon and the Assam tail tumbled under pressure with Koushik Reddy coming good with his spin in the second session.

The last five wickets fell in a space of 22 balls and four batsmen returned to pavilion without scoring a run.

Fast bowler Sankinani Vishnuvardhan, spinner Indrasekhar Reddy and Koushik Reddy claimed three wickets each.

Scoreboard:

Hyderabad first innings: 340

Assam first innings: 158

Assam second innings (overnight 9 for 2)
S Z Hussain b Indra Reddy  4
J J Lamare lbw b N P Singh 26
Mrigen Talukdar lbw b Indra Reddy  0
R Satish st I Khaleel b Indra Reddy 56
Zakira Jaffri c NP Singh b Vishnuvardhan 25
V Sarvanam c VVS Laxman b Koushik Reddy 12
Gokul Sharma  b Koushik Reddy  0
Sukhvinder Singh b Vishnuvardhan  0
Arlem Konwar  c &  b Koushik Reddy  0
Mark Ingti not out  0
Javed Zaman lbw b Vishnuvardhan  1

Extras ( lb-1, nb-1) 2

Total (all out, 46.3 overs)  126

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-5, 3-82, 4-94, 5-117, 6-125, 7-125, 8-125, 9-125.

Bowling: S Vishnuvardhan 12.3-7-21-3, Daniel Manohar 3-2-4-0, Indra Sekhar Reddy 11-1-35-3, NP Singh 12-2-43-1, Koushik Reddy 8-4-22-3.