Kerala playing within its limitations defied Hyderabad the opening day’s honours in Ranji Trophy Elite B group match at the St. Xavier’s cricket stadium, Thumba, on Thursday.
At stumps which came after the final session was extended to accommodate its rival’s poor bowling rate, Kerala, helped by the standout half-centuries from the trio of Jalaj S. Saxena (57), Sanju V. Samson (53) and skipper Sachin Baby (57 not out) was 231 for four off 85 overs.
It had rained in the vicinity of the ground late into Wednesday night and with the teams being welcomed by overcast conditions, the leeway that the home team need was provided by none other than the Hyderabad captain, P. Akshath Reddy, who despite winning the toss opted to take the field.
However, nothing worked well for the two-time champion as first-choice wicketkeeper K. Sumanth was forced to leave the field after taking a hit on his shoulder off a Ravi Kiran delivery and the Kerala openers K.B. Arun Karthick and Jalaj Saxena remaining cautious through the first hour of play.
Gaining in confidence as time wore on, Karthick and Saxena even pushed the score to an average well above three runs an over before Karthick (25) was snapped well off Ravi Teja by substitute keeper K.S.K. Chaitanya. Saxena, by then, at the other end was in complete control standing up to pull C. V. Milind and whack him over mid on in the same over.
But then, he was forced to his shell soon after the exit of Karthick as Saxena was lucky to escape twice in three deliveries off a Ravi Teja over, both the definite nicks grassed in the slips. It was thereafter only his quiet determination which helped this outstation profession of Kerala to gather his wits and steer the side to 72 for one at lunch, in the company of Rohan Prem.
The break brought about a steady decline in the run-rate as the duo eventually got back their rhythm but only to make an exit within the space of 13 runs, surrendering their wickets to left-arm spinner Mehdi Hasan. Prem took an unnecessary swipe against the spinner only to return a gift-wrapped return catch while Saxena in a quick rush of blood went for a drive over mid-wicket where his ill-timed shot was taken well by Saketh Sairam, diving a bit into the front.
The revival
The repair job was thus left on Sanju and Sachin. Sanju who had patiently seen through the initial 26 deliveries before scoring his first run and Sachin, continuing with his good from from the Vijay Hazare Trophy was engaged in an invaluable 89-run partnership for the fourth wicket, before the former failed on to control a cover drive was caught by Sandeep off Saketh Sairam.
Sachin was quick to get to his half-century soon thereafter and had the company of V. A. Jagadeesh, making a comeback to the team after a gap of one year, as he saw through his side without any further damage.
The scores:
Kerala — 1st innings: K.B. Arun Karthick c (sub) Chaitanya b Ravi Teja 25, Jalaj Saxena c Saketh b Mehdi 57, Rohan Prem c & b Mehdi 29, Sanju Samson c Sandeep b Saketh 53, Sachin Baby (batting) 57, V.A. Jagadeesh (batting) 3; Extras (nb-2, b-4, lb-1): 7; Total (for four wkts. in 85 overs): 231.
Fall of wickets: 1- 59, 2-110, 3-123, 4-212.
Hyderabad bowling: Ravi Kiran: 14-5-21-0, Milind 14-3-48-0, Ravi Teja 15-2-47-1, Mehdi 30-9-67-2; Saketh 10-1-37-1, Sandeep 2-0-6-0.
