Ranji Trophy: Vidarbha Dominates Final with Malewar and Nair's 205-Run Partnership Against Kerala
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Synopsis
Danish Malewar and Karun Nair led Vidarbha to a strong position with a 205-run partnership on Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy final against Kerala, finishing at 254/4 at stumps. Malewar scored an unbeaten 138 while Nair contributed 86 runs before an unfortunate dismissal.
Key Takeaways
- Danish Malewar scored an unbeaten 138 runs.
- Karun Nair achieved 8,000 runs in first-class cricket.
- Vidarbha finished Day 1 at 254/4.
- A 205-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
- Kerala's early wicket strategy initially paid off.
Nagpur, Feb 26 (NationPress) Danish Malewar and Karun Nair showcased an impressive performance on Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy final against Kerala, guiding former champions Vidarbha to a score of 254/4 at the end of the day at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha here on Wednesday. After winning the toss and opting to field first, Kerala, making their debut in the final of India's premier domestic tournament, started strong with an early breakthrough.
On just the second delivery of the match, Mattakandathil Dinesan Nidheesh hit the pads of Parth Rekhade, igniting joy among the fielding team. Skipper Sachin Baby chose to review umpire Jayaraman Madanagopal's decision, which ultimately favored Kerala.
This early wicket brought lower-order batsman Darshan Nalkande to the crease at number 3, but the strategic change did not yield results as Nalkande was dismissed for just one run off 21 balls. Nidheesh claimed his second wicket of the day with a short delivery outside off, leading to a pull shot caught at deep mid-wicket.
Opening batsman Dhruv Shorey followed suit, returning to the pavilion two weeks later. An outside off length ball from Eden Apple Tom saw the right-handed batsman edge it to the wicketkeeper. With Vidarbha struggling at 24/3, Malewar and Nair took charge, forming a remarkable 205-run partnership off 415 deliveries for the fourth wicket.
Malewar ended the day unbeaten with 138 runs from 269 balls, maintaining a strike rate of 53.28. At just 21 years old, this marks his second century in first-class cricket since debuting in 2024.
Nair reached a significant milestone of 8,000 runs in first-class cricket, achieving this when he hit 10 runs. He finished with 86 runs, falling short of his ninth first-class century after an unfortunate dismissal near the end of the day.
In the 81st over, Kerala opted for the second new ball, and Nair was out on the very next delivery—not due to the ball's quality, but rather a miscommunication at the crease. Nair attempted a quick run after leaving a delivery, but miscommunication led to his dismissal.
Yash Thakur remained not out alongside Malewar, concluding an eventful Day 1. The duo aims to solidify their commanding position with a formidable total on Day 2.
Brief scores:
Vidarbha 254/4 in 86 overs (Danish Malewar 138 not out, Karun Nair 86; MD Nidheesh 2-33, Eden Apple Tom 1-66) vs Vidarbha.
