Ranji Trophy: Sachin Baby spearheads Kerala’s resilient comeback against Gujarat

Ahmedabad, Feb 17 (NationPress) A determined unbeaten half-century from Kerala captain Sachin Baby (69* off 193 balls) ensured his side concluded a tense opening day at 206/4 against Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy semifinal at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Monday.

Kerala, choosing to bat first on a sluggish black-soil pitch, started solidly as openers Akshay Chandran and Rohan Kunnummal navigated the early overs without much trouble. With minimal movement for the pacers, both batters settled in, capitalizing on the occasional loose delivery to keep the scoreboard progressing.

There was an early moment of drama when Gujarat captain Chintan Gaja rapped Kunnummal on the pads, prompting a strong lbw appeal. However, ball tracking indicated the delivery would have drifted down the leg, allowing the batter to continue. Kerala openers constructed a solid 50-run stand, displaying determination, although there were tense moments while running between the wickets.

Their partnership was ultimately broken due to a mix-up, as Kunnummal called for a risky single to extra cover, leaving Akshay stranded. The dismissal came in an unusual manner, as the fielder’s throw deflected off wicketkeeper Urvil Patel’s gloves and onto the stumps, sealing Akshay’s fate on 30. Kunnummal (30), shaken by the run-out, fell shortly after, undone by a sharp Ravi Bishnoi googly that trapped him lbw.

Kerala then entered a phase of stubborn resistance. Skipper Sachin Baby, anchoring the innings with composure, found a partner in debutant Varun Nayanar. The duo aimed to stabilize the innings, but Gujarat maintained the pressure, restricting the runs. The home team’s persistence bore fruit when Nayanar, struggling to score freely, was dismissed for 10 after a laborious 55-ball stay.

With Kerala requiring stability, seasoned all-rounder Jalaj Saxena joined Sachin, and together they constructed a vital 71-run stand off 168 balls. Gujarat, in the meantime, held back their leading wicket-taker Siddharth Desai for 44 overs, and when he was eventually introduced, the left-arm spinner failed to make an impact in his 16-over spell.

After tea, Gujarat found a much-needed breakthrough as Arzan Nagwaswalla created a pivotal moment, forcing Jalaj (30) to play onto his stumps. Yet, even as wickets fell at regular intervals, Sachin Baby remained steadfast at one end, his patience and resilience preventing Gujarat from seizing full control.

By the conclusion of the day’s play, Kerala’s defensive efforts had brought them to a commendable total, with Sachin and Mohammed Azharuddeen (30*) forging an unbroken 49-run stand off 21 overs.

Brief scores: Kerala 206/4 in 89 overs (Sachin Baby 69 not out, Mohammed Azharuddeen 30 not out; Ravi Bishnoi 1-33, Priyajitsing Jadeja 1-33) against Gujarat.