Kerala 131 for 3 (Sarwate 66*, Imran 37, Nalkande 2-22) Path Vidarbha 379 (Malewar 153, Nair 86, Nidheesh 3-61, Apple Tom 3-102) by 248 runs
Vidarbha, finalists from the earlier version, did publish a difficult whole, although. Nachiket Bhute, who got here in at No. 11, scored a vital 32 off 38 balls. The 44-run stand between Bhute and Harsh Dubey for the tenth wicket prolonged the primary session from its scheduled two-and-a-half-hour period to 3 hours and took Vidarbha to 379.
The day began with Vidarbha on 254 for 4 and runs flew early on. Thakur flicked the primary ball of the day to the midwicket boundary and the fifth ball of the subsequent over to the square-leg boundary. Nidheesh discovered some swing and adjusted his lengths to maintain batters in verify, however Apple Tom’s traces had been inconsistent and he was pushed when he bowled full.
Vidarbha slowed down after the introduction of Basil as he provided Nidheesh assist and his group management. The latter induced an outdoor edge off Thakur within the ninety fifth over however it did not carry to gully. Within the subsequent one, Basil bought one to nip again and smash Malewar’s stumps to finish his innings on 153.
Bassil eliminated the opposite set batter, Yash Thakur. He angled in a full ball from vast of the crease to beat Thakur on the flick and pin him lbw.
Apple Tom’s return within the subsequent over was rewarded with the wicket of Yash Rathod, who’s Vidarbha’s highest run-getter on this thus far. A size ball from across the wicket straightened off the pitch, took the sting and was caught at first slip as Vidarbha slumped to 297 for 7.
The Yashes had been gone, however the two Akshays – Wadkar and Karnewar – stored the innings afloat with a 36-run stand for the eighth wicket. Wadkar punched Basil by cowl off the again foot, and Karnewar picked up a streaky boundary every off Apple Tom and Basil.
The Yashes had been gone, however the two Akshays – Wadkar and Karnewar – stored the innings afloat with a 36-run stand for the eighth wicket. Wadkar punched Basil by cowl off the again foot, and Karnewar picked up a streaky boundary every off Apple Tom and Basil. Wadkar carved a six simply over deep-backward level off Nidheesh earlier than a streaky boundary got here within the type of leg byes.
The stand was damaged when Rohan Kunnummal took a pointy, low catch at cowl to dismiss Karnewar. In what was purported to be the ultimate over earlier than lunch, Wadkar went for a strong minimize however the size ball from Apple Tom seamed away, took the sting and led to a caught
behind.
Bhute smashed two sixes off Saxena, the primary of which took Vidarbha previous 350. Dubey, his associate, was snug as he rotated strike and swept Saxena for 4. The stand went previous the 35-over session, which yielded 119 runs and 5 wickets, however ended 13 balls later as Bhute was out caught behind off Nidheesh whereas making an attempt to run a back-of–good-length ball to deep third.
Nalkande speared in a yorker on off stump within the first over to catch Kunnummal without warning. The ball dribbled onto the stumps off the bat and Vidarbha had been rolling. From the opposite finish, Thakur missed his line and went for 3 boundaries. That did not cease Nalkande although, as he swung in a full ball to catch the within fringe of Akshay Chandran’s drive that clattered onto the stumps.
Thakur overpitched once more and Sarwate cowl drove his method from 0 to eight. In his subsequent over, he bowled a brief ball that was minimize by cowl for 4 extra. Kerala had been 30 for two off six overs, with 28 runs coming off Thakur.
A double-change practically labored for Vidarbha as Bhute drew an edge off Imran’s bat however Atharva Taide, the substitute fielder, dropped the possibility at second slip. Sarwate picked up two extra boundaries by the off facet as Kerala breezed by to tea on 57 for two.
The batters seemed assured within the last session that started with spin. Parth Rekhade was changed by Nalkande after being swept for 2 fours in consecutive overs. Dubey, the very best wicket-taker within the match by a distance, discovered flip and stacked back-to-back maidens with Nalkande. Whereas Nalkande created two close to possibilities within the twenty fourth over, the batters had been protected.
Sarwate hit Nalkande for 2 fours in his subsequent over and ended his spell. He introduced up fifty and Kerala’s hundred within the thirtieth over. Thakur tried out the bouncer which price him a boundary however earned Imran’s wicket quickly after because the batter miscued a pull to midwicket. Sarwate picked up a pair extra boundaries with Child holding fort on the different finish as Kerala completed the day Kerala trailing Vidarbha by 248.
Ekanth is a sub-editor with ESPNcricinfo
