Opener Hemal Watekar struck a brilliant 137 as Andhra Pradesh recovered from a disastrous start to score 294 for six at close in their Ranji Trophy match against Punjab in Amritsar [Images] on Saturday.

Gagandeep Singh got early success for the hosts when he got the three wickets of L N P Reddy (8), A S K Varma (6) and Gnaneswara Rao (1) for a total of 19.

Watekar scored 137 with the help of one six and 13 hits to the fence to put a brake on Andhra batsmen's return to the pavilion. He was involved in a 142-run fourth wicket partnership with M S K Prasad who scored a valuable 51 runs with eight fours before being out to Ankur Kakkar when the scoreboard read 161.

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The new batsman Sumnath (35) gave support to Watekar, who returned to the pavilion after being out LBW to Karan Goel when the total was 244.

Sumnath did not stay at the crease for long and was caught by Goel off the bowling of Amanpreet Singh after the addition of 14 runs to the total.

At close G Shankara Rao (21) and M Faiq (23) were at the crease.

Gagandeep Singh took three wickets while Amanpreet Singh, Ankur Kakkar and Karan Goel shared the remaining three wickets.

Andhra Pradesh (first innings)

Hemal Watekar lbw b Goel 137
LNP Reddy lbw b Gagandeep Singh 8
ASK Varma c Dharmani b Gagandeep Singh 6
Y Gnaneswara Rao c Goel b Gagandeep Singh 1
MSK Prasad b Kakkar 51
B Sumanth c Goel b Amanpreet Singh 35
G Shankara Rao batting 21
M Faiq batting 23
Extras (b 1, lb 5, nb 6) 12
Total (for six wickets in 90 overs) 294

Fall of wickets:1-9, 2-17, 3-19, 4-161, 5-244, 6-258.

Bowling :Gagandeep Singh 17.4-6-28-3, Manpreet Gony 23-4-92-0, Amanpreet Singh 21-3-76-1, Sarabjit Ladda 10-0-52-0 Ankur Kakkar 17-6-34-1, Karan Goel 1.2-0-6-1.