Kerala’s techniques have been weird after having the opposition on the mat because it allowed Bengal a whiff of an opportunity to drive a draw on the final day of the Ranji Trophy match on the St.Xavier’s College floor right here.
Kerala didn’t implement the follow-on after bundling out Bengal for 180 within the first innings. The host batted for two classes and declared the second innings at 265 for six to go away Bengal a mammoth goal of 448 to win. Bengal completed day three at 77 for two on a observe with variable bounce and faces a frightening task on Monday.
Kerala ended the day on a excessive as leg spinner Shreyas Gopal received a supply to climb and took the sting of Sudip Kumar Gharami’s (31) bat and to the protected arms of Akshay Chandran within the slips.
Gharami and Abhimanyu Easwarn until then had performed the Kerala spinners with ease and had added 50 runs for the second wicket. Easwaran as soon as once more confirmed poise and method in opposition to Kerala spinners to stay unbeaten on 31. Bengal’s fortunes on the final day will rely loads on Easwaran.
Earlier, It solely took 13 deliveries for Jalaj Saxena to wrap up the Bengal innings and find yourself with the career-best figures of 9 for 68. Jalaj had Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal (9) edging a catch to Rohan Kunnummal at brief leg after which castled Karan Lal for 35 to dismiss Bengal for 180.
Kerala wanted a fast begin and openers Rohan Kunnummal and Jalaj Saxena performed the Bengal spinners comfortably and punished the free deliveries with out taking any undue dangers. Rohan clattered just a few boundaries and hit Ankit Mishra over long-on for a six to succeed in his half-century. Jalaj complemented his accomplice effectively because the openers scored briskly so as to add 91 runs for the primary wicket. Rohan (51) was trapped in entrance off a grubber from Shahbaz.
Soon after, Jalaj missed his sweep in opposition to Ankit Mishra and out leg earlier than for 37. Sachin Baby (50) and Akshay Chandran (36) added 87 runs for the third wicket earlier than Baby perished to an enormous shot. Shreyas then attacked the Bengal spinners to attain a speedy 50 off 58 balls as Kerala declared the innings on the stroke of tea.
The scores: Kerala-1st innings: 363
Bengal -1st innings: Abhimanyu Easwaran c Rohan b Jalaj 72, Ranjot Singh Kharia b Nidheesh 6, Sudip Kumar Gharami c Rohan b Jalaj 33, Manoj Tiwary c Akshay b Jalaj 6, Abishek Poral c Rohan b jalaj 2, Anustup majumdar c Baby b Jalaj 0, Shahbaz c Prem b Jalaj 8, Karan Lal b Jalaj 35, Akash Deep c Sanju b Jalaj 4, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal c Rohan b Jalaj 9, Ankit Mishra not out 0 Extras (b-4, nb-1): 5 Total (in 51.1 overs): 180.
Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-107, 3-118, 4-122, 5-122, 6-129, 7-145, 8-151, 9-173.
Kerala bowling: Thampi 2-0-16-0, Jalaj 21.1-3-68-9,Nidheesh 9-1-35-1, Shreyas 7-0-30-0, Basil 11-2-25-0, Akshay 1-0-2-0
Kerala-2nd innings: Rohan S. Kunnummal lbw Shahbaz 51, Jalaj Saxena lbw Shahbaz 37, Sachin Baby c Akash b Mishra 51, Akshay Chandran lbw Karan 36, Shreyas Gopal not out 50, Mohammed Azharuddeen c Shahbaz bt Kharia 18, M.D. Nidheesh c Gharami b Shahbaz 11, N.P. Basil not out 6 Extras (b-1, 1b-2, nb-2): 5 Total (for six wkts decl in 64.2 overs): 265.
Fall of wickets: 1-88, 2-91, 3-177, 4-180, 5-234, 6-257
Bengal bowling: Shahbaz 23.2-3-80-3, Mishra 23-0-98-1, Karan 15-1-54-1, Manoj 1-0-6-0, Kharia 2-0-19-1
Bengal -2nd innings: Abhimanyu Easwaran batting 31, Ranjot Singh Kharia c Thampi b Jalaj 2, Sudip Kumar Gharami c Akshay b Shreyas 31 Extras (b-4, 1b-5, nb-2): 11 Total (for two wkt in 20-4 overs): 77.
Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-77.
Kerala bowling: Jalaj 10-1-36-1, Akshay 5-2-15-0, Shreyas 4.4-0-15-1, Baby 1-0-2-0.
