Vijay Hazare Trophy | Ton-upRohan, Samson help Kerala ease past Jharkhand

Much as the Jharkhand batting evokes awe, its bowling sometimes is insipid and underwhelming as made out by Kerala opening batters Rohan S. Kunnummal 124 (78b, 8×4, 11×6) and Sanju Samson 101 (95b, 9×4, 3×6) who smashed centuries to propel their side to an eight-wicket win in the Vijay Hazare Group ‘A’ Elite match at the ADSA Railways cricket ground here on Saturday.

The target of 312 was chased comfortably as Rohan and Samson tore into the Jharkhand attack to add 212 runs for the first wicket. After the openers left, B. Aparajith (41 n.o.) and Vishnu Vinod (40 n.o.) completed the formalities in the 43rd over.

The whirlwind centuries from the openers, eclipsed a well-paced knock from Kumar Kushagra 143 not out (137b, 8×4, 7×6). Kushagra added 176 runs with Anukul Roy 72 (72b 4×4, 3×6) for the fifth wicket as Jharkhand recovered from 111 for four in the 21st over to post a challenging total of 311.

However, Rohan and Samson killed the contest in the powerplay with their blazing start. Rohan was the enforcer, striking the medium pacers through the line for score boundaries and sixes in the powerplay. Samson, after a circumspect start, found his range and played the spinners pretty well in the middle overs to turn the chase into a breeze.

Tamil Nadu collapsed dramatically against Rajasthan to suffer its fourth defeat of the tournament by falling short of 10 runs. Chasing a modest target of 226, Tamil Nadu was cruising when openers S.R. Athish 54 (50b, 4×4, 3×6) and N. Jagadeesan 71 (52b, 13×4) added 121 for the first wicket.

However, medium-pacer Ashok Sharma (five for 58) and left-arm spinner Manav Suthar (three for 44) picked up wickets regularly as Tamil Nadu slipped to 190 for eight. Washington Sundar (36) and Varun Chakaravarthy (6) figured in a 25-run ninth wicket stand to raise hopes. But an inspired bowling change saw Deepak Hooda dismiss Varun and Khaleel Ahmed gave Rajasthan a memorable win by snaring Sundar.

The Karnataka juggernaut rolled imperiouslyon as the champion crushed Tripura by 80 runs. Devdutt Padikkal smashed another century 108 (120b, 8×4, 3×6) and Abhinav Manohar 73 not out (43b, 6×4, 4×6) finished majestically as Karnataka piled up 332 for seven. Tripura was never in the hunt after collapsing to 59 for five but managed to score 252 largely through Swanpil Singh’s 100 (93b, 7×4, 2×6).