In a bid to force an outright result in its favour, Andhra lost even the one point it could have secured with a draw, as Chhattisgarh completed a five-wicket win in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group B fixture at the DVR Ground here on Thursday.

After losing the first-innings lead, Andhra asked Chhattisgarh to chase a tricky 179-run target with one-and-a-half sessions left. Visiting captain and opener Anuj Tiwary led from the front with a 60 off 73 balls (7x4, 1x6) before Ajay Mandal and Dev Aditya Singh finished the game in the extended period of play.

Anuj often came down the track to tackle the slow turn on offer and kept the scoreboard ticking with quick singles and occasional boundaries. Despite the loss of his wicket, Aditya and Mandal maintained the momentum to give Chhattisgarh its first win of the season.

Andhra skipper Ricky Bhui trusted his bowlers to defend the target after ending the second innings at 184 for three. Bhui scored an unbeaten 72 off 75 balls (4x4, 3x6) and was partnered by Karan Shinde, who followed his captain’s template and struck an unconquered 54-ball 53 (6x4, 1x6).

As soon as Shinde reached his half-century, Bhui declared the innings. He pushed for all six points after conceding the opportunity to take the first-innings lead, courtesy of Amandeep Khare’s unbeaten 89.

Chhattisgarh had needed 16 runs to go past Andhra’s 231, with only two wickets in hand, and Amandeep ensured it crossed that score. It was a small but vital advantage.

The scores: Andhra — 1st innings: 231.

Chhattisgarh — 1st innings: Ayush Pandey run out 13, Anuj Tiwary c Mohan b Vijay 34, Mayank Verma lbw b Saurabh 20, Amandeep Khare (not out) 89, Vikalp Tiwari c Sasikanth b Vijay 4, Rahul Pradhan c Revanth b Saurabh 11, Ajay Mandal c Revanth b Sasikanth 29, Jayant Yadav c Revanth b Mohan 4, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja c Rahul b Vijay 3, Dev Aditya Singh b Saurabh 8, Sandeep Warrier b Vijay 2; Extras (b-9, lb-9, nb-2): 20; Total (in 107.3 overs): 237.

Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-59, 3-91, 4-95, 5-122, 6-178, 7-189, 8-205, 9-228.

Andhra bowling: Saurabh 45-11-83-3, Vijay 28.3-6-76-4, Mohan 27-6-40-1, Hemanth 2-0-7-0, Sasikanth 4-1-11-1, Rahul 1-0-2-0.

Andhra — 2nd innings: Abhishek Reddy st. Pradhan b Jadeja 8, Hemanth Reddy st. Pradhan b Jadeja 1, Saurabh Kumar c Anuj b Jayant 36, Ricky Bhui (not out) 72, Karan Shinde (not out) 53; Extras (b-8, lb-4, nb-2): 14; Total (for three wkts. decl. in 32 overs): 184.

Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-17, 3-85.

Chhattisgarh bowling: Mandal 8-1-35-0, Jadeja 11-0-52-2, Jayant 10-1-70-1, Warrier 2-0-5-0, Vikalp 1-0-10-0.

Chhattisgarh — 2nd innings: Ayush Pandey c Bhui b Sasikanth 11, Anuj Tiwary c Hemanth b Saurabh 60, Amandeep Khare b Saurabh 30, Vikalp Tiwari c Abhishek b Saurabh 10, Ajay Mandal c Shinde b Vijay 28, Dev Aditya Singh (not out) 34, Mayank Verma (not out) 0; Extras (b-9): 9; Total (for five wkts. in 35.1 overs): 182.

Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-98, 3-110, 4-133, 5-178.