Services shocks Kerala, storms into semifinals

Pathania picks up three; Chauhan and and Paliwal punish a wayward attack

December 22, 2021 10:36 pm | Updated December 23, 2021 07:35 am IST - Jaipur

Turning it on:  Ravi Chauhan’s aggressive 95 helped Services win at a canter.

Turning it on: Ravi Chauhan’s aggressive 95 helped Services win at a canter.

For Services to topple a strong Kerala, it needed a disciplined performance and luck to favour it. The toss evened the scales just slightly, and self-destruction by Kerala’s middle-order batters meant Services brushed aside its opponent with relative ease at the K. L. Saini Stadium here.

The seven-wicket win helped Services make it to the semifinals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy for the first time.

Decisive contributions

Fast bowler Diwesh Pathania (three for 19) and opening batter Ravi Chauhan (95, 90b, 13x4, 3x6) made decisive contributions with ball and bat, respectively, ensuring a thorough performance from a team devoid of superstars.

Inserted in, Kerala was put under pressure by the fast bowlers — especially Pathania — from the get go.

In his excellent first spell, Pathania got two wickets in two balls with deliveries that moved away slightly after pitching.

Later, Pathania came back to help wipe the tail in a hurry, but the real damage was done when the seamers weren’t bowling, after the patient and solid Rohan Kunnummal (85, 106b, 7x4, 2x6) had steadied the ship in the company of Vinoop Manoharan and Sachin Baby.

First, Sachin top edged while attempting a sweep off Pulkit Narang, the off-spinner and was caught out in the 31st over. Soon after, Sanju Samson, the captain, smashed a half-volley from Narang straight to the fielder at long-on to be dismissed for two. Then, the set Rohan got out, too, run out at the non-strikers’ end after a mix-up, in the 37th.

From 135 for three, Kerala had slumped to 161 for six. It was bowled out for 175, losing five wickets for just 25 runs.

Services’ top order still had to see off the new ball and to safely negotiate Basil Thampi & Co. Wickets did fall, but once the fast bowlers were given a rest, opener Chauhan and Rajat Paliwal (65, 86b, 8x4) started to keep the scoreboard ticking.

By the 16th over, the tide had turned, Chauhan reaching his half-century with a slog-sweep for six.

That it wasn’t Kerala’s day was signified when Rohan, the top-scorer for his side, dropped a catch in the 27th over. Chauhan had slog-swept the ball to deep midwicket where Rohan, diving forward, couldn’t hold on.

The scores:

Kerala 175 in 40.4 overs (Rohan Kunnummal 85, Vinoop Manoharan 41) lost to Services 176 for 3 in 30.5 overs (Ravi Chauhan 95, Rajat Paliwal 65 n.o.).

Vidarbha 150 in 40.3 overs (Apoorv Wankhede 72) lost to Saurashtra 151/3 in 29.5 overs (Prerak Mankad 77 n.o., Arpit Vasavada 41 n.o.).

Semifinals: Dec. 24: Saurashtra vs Tamil Nadu; Services vs Himachal Pradesh .

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