The failure of V.A. Jagadeesh at the top of the order was one of the major problems that plagued Kerala in its disappointing campaign in the Ranji Trophy last season.
The normally reliable opener, who bats with one of the straightest bats in Kerala cricket, could not reach 20 even once in the four matches he played.
That miserable run would seem a distant memory for him, as he batted himself back into form on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Group ‘C’ match against Jammu & Kashmir at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium here on Friday.
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At close on the second day, the visiting side was 158 for two, in reply to J&K’s 330. The day would have been even better for Kerala if Jagadeesh hadn’t lost his wicket in a most unlucky manner. He was run out for 69 (185b, 6x4) while at the non-striker’s end.
“The straight drive by Rohan Prem off medium-pacer Ram Dayal appeared to kiss — and I felt it didn’t — my foot before hitting the stumps, and I was marginally outside the crease,” Jagadeesh told The Hindu . “Never in my life have I lost my wicket in such a way.”
He admitted he was extremely disappointed to get out when the stumps was not far away. “I was determined to play a long innings and take my team closer to J&K’s first innings score,” he said. “We still are in a good position as there is plenty of batting to come.”
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Before his dismissal, Jagadeesh had put on 129 for the second wicket with Rohan (67 batting, 187b, 8x4, 1x6).
Earlier, it was a century partnership for the eighth wicket that helped the host, which had resumed at the overnight 247 for seven, cross 300.
Bandeep Singh (82, 211b, 10x4) and Waseem Raza (73, 106b, 8x4) added 120.
The scores:
Jammu & Kashmir — 1st innings: Shubham Khajuria c Samson b Nidheesh 4, Adil Reshi b Gomez 26, Ian Dev Singh lbw b Gomez 38, Mithun Manhas c Baby b Farzeen 20, Parvez Rasool b Nidheesh 54, Bandeep Singh run out 82, Samad Bhat lbw b Farzeen 9, Ram Dayal c Baby b Monish 12, Waseem Raza c Nidheesh b Monish 73, Mohammed Mudhasir c Nidheesh b Monish 4, Umar Nazir (not out) 0; Extras (b-5, lb-3): 8; Total (in 106.5 overs): 330.
Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-51, 3-87, 4-91, 5-165, 6-176, 7-202, 8-322, 9-330.
Kerala bowling: Sandeep Warrier 25-5-72-0, M.D. Nidheesh 20-3-62-2, C.O.T. Ahmed Farzeen 23-5-58-2, Raiphi Vincent Gomez 15-6-33-2, S. Monish 13.5-1-63-3, Rohan Prem 9-1-28-0, Sachin Baby 1-0-6-0.
Kerala — 1st innings: V.A. Jagadeesh run out 69, Akshay Kodoth c Manhas b Dayal 6, Rohan Prem (batting) 67, Sachin Baby (batting) 5, Extras (lb-1, nb-10): 11; Total (for two wkts. in 68 overs): 158.
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-138.
Jammu & Kashmir bowling: Ram Dayal 14-3-32-1, Mohammed Mudhasir 19-5-38-0, Umar Nazir 13-1-31-0, Parvez Rasool 14-3-33-0, Waseem Raza 6-0-17-0, Adil Reshi 2-1-6-0.