Maharashtrareduces Kerala to 35 for 3 after lower-order fightback

An outdated scourge and an ex-teammate returned to torment Kerala on a rain-hit second day of the Ranji Trophy cricket match in opposition to Maharashtra on the Sports Hub, Greenfield stadium right here on Thursday.

Rajneesh Gurbani, who blew away Kerala eight years in the past in a Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match in Surat, took two fast wickets to place Kerala on the backfoot after a effective Maharashtra decrease order resistance within the prolonged publish lunch session.

Jalaj Saxena within the first over after tea took the prize wicket of opener Rohan Kunnummal (27) to depart Kerala in a spot of hassle at 35 for 3 when rain compelled play to be known as off after 4 balls.

Only 35.5 overs of play was attainable on the day that noticed pre-match showers wipe out all the first session. When play started at 12.10 p.m., the Maharashtra’s in a single day batters Vicky Ostwal and Ramakrishna Ghosh negotiated the Kerala assault with none fuss. The size that the Kerala medium pacers bowled, was a trifle brief to hassle the batters. 

Both Ostwal and Ghosh added 59 runs for the eighth wicket. Left arm spinner Ankit Sharma acquired the breakthrough when he discovered bounce to attract an edge from Ghosh (31) which was snapped up by Azharuddeen. Nidheesh acquired his deserved fifth wicket when he had Gurbani (10) feathering a catch to Azharuddeen. Basil ended Ostwal’s (38) defiance by trapping him in entrance as Maharashtra was dismissed for 239.

Rohan Kunnummal began positively by clubbing Gurbani for 2 boundaries within the first over. He raced to twenty in fast time. However, Akshay Chandran struggled and he was put out of his distress by Gurbani. The pacer then took a effective return catch to dismiss B. Aparajith, who acquired a leaning edge whereas making an attempt to play a flick. Rohan made the cardinal error of taking part in again to a sooner ball from Jalaj Saxena and was trapped in entrance to depart Kerala in hassle.

The scores: Maharashtra – 1st innings: Prithvi Shaw lbw b Nidheesh 0, Arshin Kulkarni c Rohan b Basil 0, Siddhesh Veer c Azharuddeen b Nidheesh 0, Ruturaj Gaikwad lbw b Edhen 91, Ankit Bawne b Basil 0, Saurabh Nawale lbw b Nidheesh 12, Jalaj Saxena lbw b Nidheesh 49, Vicky Ostwal lbw b Basil 38, Ramakrishna Ghosh c Azharuddeen b Ankit 31 Rajneesh Gurbani c Azharuddeen b Nidheesh 10, Mukesh Choudhary not out 0; Extras (lb-2, w-6): 8; Total (in 84.1 overs): 239.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-5, 5-18, 6-140, 7-164, 8-223, 9-239.

Kerala bowling: Nidheesh 20-7-49-5, Basil 18.1-7-57-3, Edhen 11-1-41-1, Ankit 22-5-54-1, Aparajith 7-0-18-0, Akshay 6-0-18-0.

Kerala – 1st innings: Akshay Chandran lbw Gurbani 0, Rohan S. Kunnummal lbw b Jalaj 27, B. Aparajith c & b Gurbani 6, Sachin Baby (batting) 0; Extras (1b-2):2; Total (for 3 wkts. in 10.4 overs): 35.

Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-35, 3-35.

Maharashtra bowling: Mukesh 5-1-13-0, Gurbani 5-0-20-2, Jalaj 0.4-0-0-1.