The Hindu : Kerala in deep trouble

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 17, 2003

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Kerala in deep trouble

By Our Sports Reporter

PALAKKAD NOV. 16. Kerala finished the second day of its Ranji Trophy Elite Group `A' match against Railways in deep trouble at 195 for seven. Former India medium-pacer Harvinder Singh was the wrecker in chief for the visitor with a five-wicket haul at the Kota Maidan here on Sunday.

Kerala's pathetic start and finish to the day undid the excellent work of the young left-handers, C. Hemant Kumar (batting 87) and vice-captain Sreekumar Nair (69). The duo steadied the innings with a sensible and stubborn 161-run partnership for the fifth wicket which lasted nearly four hours.

Railways finished its first innings at 295 with a 68-run ninth wicket stand between Shyresh Khanalkar (72) and Kulamani Parida (17) in the morning.

The 26-year-old Harvinder Singh struck twice in his sixth over. He removed last season's top run-getter Sujith Somasunder (9) and Vipin Lal (0), the latter with a lovely yorker. Before the host could recover, Jai Prakash Yadav trapped wicketkeeper Mauzam Nathani leg before. Kerala was tottering at 19 for three with all three falling at the same score. Kerala captain Sunil Oasis became Harvinder's third victim falling to a questionable lbw decision.

It was at this stage that Sreekumar Nair joined Kerala's Chennai-born professional Hemant. The two read the situation wisely, first steadying the team and then slowly picking up pace. Sreekumar cut and chipped to the covers frequently while Hemant used his feet sensibly, raising hope in the Kerala camp.

But just when the two began to grow in confidence, Harvinder struck again. Sreekumar, who edged to wicketkeeper-captain Abhay Sharma, and Ajay Kudua were Harvinder's last two victims of the day.

From 193 for four, Kerala slumped to 194 for seven with all the damage occurring just three overs from close.

* The scores: Railways 295 in 101.1 overs (Sanjay Bangar 45, Amit Pagnis 42, Tejinderpal Singh 40, Shyresh Khanalkar 72, K.N. Ananthapadmanabhan four for 46) vs Kerala 195 for seven in 76 overs (C. Hemant Kumar batting 87, Sreekumar Nair 69, Harvinder Singh five for 42).

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