Thumba: Kerala’s first win in the Ranji Trophy cricket season. Kerala won the Elite B Group match against Bengal by 109 runs. Score: Kerala 1st innings 363, 2nd innings 265 for 6 declared. Bengal first innings 180, second innings 339. Chasing a huge target of 449 runs, Bengal were all out for 339 in the final session on the final day.
The struggle of Shabazz Ahmed who scored 80 runs including two sixes and eight fours in 100 balls and Karan Lal who scored 40 runs in 78 balls including two sixes and fours added to Kerala’s heart beat. Shabazz was played by Basil Thambi and Karan Lal was played by N.P. Bengal’s resistance ended with the dismissal of Basil too.
Veteran off-spinner Jalaj Saxena, who took nine wickets in the first innings, took four wickets in the second innings. Shreyas Gopal and Basil Thambi took two wickets each. Jalaj took 13 wickets in the entire match. On the last day, Kerala needed eight wickets to win and Bengal needed 372 runs.
Opener Abhimanyu Easwaran (65 off 119 balls) posed a threat but Jalaj Saxena saved Kerala once again. Jalaj also returned Anushtap Majumdar (16). Shreyas Gopal caught Abhishek Porel (28) off his own bowling and accelerated Bengal’s collapse. Skipper Manoj Tiwari (35) and Shahbaz Ahmed avoided the clash. Jalaj himself also knocked down Indian player Manoj Tiwari. Later, Karan Lal and Shahbaz Ahmed made a worrying partnership. Both of them put on 83 runs for the seventh wicket. Shabaaz was brought into the hands of Rohan Kunnummal and Basil Thambi broke the alliance. Kerala, whose knockout hopes ended, reached the third position. They have 14 points from six games so far with one win, one loss and four draws. Mumbai is on top with 30 points from six matches. Andhra Pradesh is second with 25 points from six games. Bengal has 12 points from six games.
G. Arun
2024-02-12 19:41:00
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