On the second day of the Ranji Trophy cricket match on the grounds of KCA-St.Xavier’s College, Kerala’s spinners chased the pair out of service and outmaneuvered the batters.
Kerala’s first innings total of 327, the Spinners complimented each other at home for the first time this season, forcing the visitors to go 167-6. With control and cunning he scores 2 for 30. Vaisakh flew the ball and changed the tempo to get batsman Jaraj Saxena in trouble after a normal start. He later improved to deal with two wickets as well. Captain Sijomon interfered with a late wicket from Ravi Chauhan (50) as the service squandered a promising start.
Service opener S.G. Rohilla looked good as he boldly beat Basil Thampi and started two crisp borders in style. His partner Sufyan Aslam was alarmed as the duo of contrasting styles added 48 runs for the first wicket.
Sufiyan, however, missed a move as the ball rushed in his direction and Vaisakh won his lbw decision in his favor from the referee. Rohilla (31) paddled for his ball straight from Jalaj and Rahul Singh (19) was caught up front by his Vaisakh. Ravi Chauhan and L. S. Kumar added 34 runs for 5 wickets after Rajat Palliwal was killed on a slip catch.
Kumar’s (12) poor judgment led to his downfall as he slung his arm over his shoulder and watched as the stump was repositioned by Jaraj. Later in the third session, Sijomon locked Ravi his Chauhan forward and lifted Kerala
. Early in the morning, sleepover couple Sachin Baby and Sijomon Joseph survived a spell of testing by the Services Medium Pacers. Sachin Baby hit 150 without fuss, but Sijomon survived two chances and lived an adorable life, but the hitter was Rathee, his M. 55 off-spinner.
The seventh pair of wickets added 131 runs, but Kerala suffered a minor meltdown when Sachin Baby made his second run, which did not materialize. Basil Thampi (0) closed 1 against his S.G. Rohilla slipped in Pulkit his Narang slip as Kerala fell from his 6-for-311 to 9-for-312. MD Nidheesh he hit 4 and 6 but he was cleared by Rathee who picked the second wicket.