Resolute batting by Bandeep Singh prevented Kerala from dominating the opening day of the Ranji Trophy Group C match at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium here on Thursday.
He was unbeaten on 50 (158b, 7x4) as Jammu & Kashmir reached 247 for seven at close.
The visiting side would not have been too unhappy with such a score when it lost the toss in the morning and was forced to bowl, but it would have expected J&K, which had been reduced to 176 for six at one stage, to slip further.
However, Bandeep, first in the company of Ram Dayal and then Waseem Raza (26 not out), ensured that J&K would not be dismissed cheaply, though it lost its two main batsmen, Ian Dev Singh (38) and captain Mithun Manhas (20), without making big scores.
His unbroken eighth-wicket stand with Raza, who has hit seven fours from the 28 balls he has faced so far, is already worth 45.
Bandeep also figured in the biggest partnership so far of the innings, for the fifth wicket.
He added 74 with Parveez Rasool (54, 75b, 7x4, 1x6) after coming in at 91 for four.
The earlier part of the day had belonged to the Kerala pace bowlers, among whom M.D. Nidheesh, debutant C.O.T. Ahmed Farzeen and Raiphi Vincent Gomez picked up a couple of wickets each.
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 (batting) 50, Samad Bhat lbw b Farzeen 9, Ram Dayal c Baby b Monish 12, Waseem Raza (batting) 26; Extras (b-5, lb-3): 8; Total (for seven wkts. in 84 overs): 247.
Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-51, 3-87, 4-91, 5-165, 6-176, 7-202.
Kerala bowling: Sandeep Warrier 19-5-53-0, M.D. Nidheesh 17-3-54-2, C.O.T. Ahmed Farzeen 20-5-48-2, Raiphi Vincent Gomez 13-5-20-2, S. Monish 8-1-40-1, Rohan Prem 6-1-18-0, Sachin Baby 1-0-6-0.
