Karun Nair en Route His Hundred. , Picture Credit score: Nirmal Harindran
Karun Nair likes to bat on and on.
He loves it extra if the stage is grander. Like a Ranji Trophy ultimate, as an illustration. Again in 2014-15, he had made 328 to assist Karnataka rating an enormous victory over Tamil Nadu.
A decade later, he has stamped his authority in one other Ranji Trophy ultimate. His unbeaten 132 (280b, 373min, 10×4, 2×6) has just about ensured Vidarbha its third title in India’s most prestigious home event.
Driving on Karun’s elegant knock, the host ended the fourth day at 249 for 4 on the VCA Stadium. An total lead of 286 runs going into Sunday’s ultimate day.
That is Karun’s ninth hundred throughout codecs this season. It might simply have been tenth, if he hadn’t been run out for 86 within the first innings.
The primary cause behind what now appears like Vidarbha’s match-winning first innings whole was his fourth-wicket stand of 215 with Danish Malewar. The 2 batters, who clearly love one another’s firm, pissed off Kerala on Saturday too, including 182 for the third wicket.
And Vidarbha badly wanted that partnership after the openers have been again within the dressing room inside three overs.
Jalaj Saxena, the veteran off-spinner who got here into the assault in simply the second over, had Parth Rekhade lunging ahead solely to listen to the disagreeable sound from behind, because the ball saved low and sneaked by means of the gate to disturb the stumps.
Within the following over, Dhruv Shorey performed properly away from physique and was caught by wicketkeeper Mohammed Azharuddeen, diving in entrance of slip. At seven for 2, Vidarbha was in hassle.
It momentarily turned 9 for 3, however Malewar, who was adjudged lbw to Jalaj, had a profitable assessment. The 21-year-old, who had hit a glowing hundred within the first innings, and his senior associate quickly went about doing what that they had been doing all season: accumulating runs with minimal danger.
Malewar (73, 162b, 263min, 5×4) was finally caught at slip off Akshay Chandran. However Karun continued to bat serenely. He drove sweetly and when alternatives got here, he additionally went aerial, like he did towards Aditya Sarwate, lofting him for successive sixes.
Earlier than that he had given an opportunity when he was on 31, however was dropped at slip by Akshay off Eden Apple Tom. Karun made Kerala pay dearly.
The scores:
Vidarbha — 1st Innings: 379.
Kerala — 1st Innings: 342.
Vidarbha — 2nd Innings: Parth Rekhade B Jalaj 1, Dhruv Shorey C Azharauddeen B Nidheesh 5, Danish Malewar C Child B Akshay 73, Karun Nair (Batting) 132 Yash Rathod LBW B Sarwate 24, Akshay Wadkar (Batting) 4; Extras (B-5, LB-3, NB-2) 10; Complete (for 4 Wkts. 90 overs): 249.
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-7, 3-189, 4-238.
Kerala bowling: Nidhesh 10-2-37-1, Jalaj 32-7-76-1, Eden 10-0-38-0, Sarwate 25-8-55-1, Basil 4-1-6-0, Akshay 9-1-29-1.
Revealed – March 01, 2025 07:14 PM is
