The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Sandeep Maniyar wrecks Kerala

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Tuesday, Dec 14, 2004

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Sandeep Maniyar wrecks Kerala

By Our Sports Reporter

PALAKKAD, DEC 13. Kerala, unable to withstand the fiery onslaught of Sandeep Maniyar, collapsed for a meagre 117 in its first essay against Saurashtra on the opening day of the four-day Ranji Trophy Plate Group `A' match at the Fort Maidan grounds here on Monday.

At stumps, the visitor was 146 for six in 40 overs with a 29-run first innings lead. Rakesh Dhruv and Virendra Vegada were at the crease.

The wicket looked green and juicy and probably that prompted the young visiting skipper Jayadev N. Shah, who won the toss, to take the field. And by lunch he was convinced that he had taken a wise decision, as right arm fast bowler Sandeep Maniyar had already sliced the Kerala top order with his vicious spell that earned him six wickets.

Kerala was precariously placed at 93 for seven and it took only an additional six overs of sweat after lunch for Saurashtra to bundle out its opponents.

The host started its first innings on a disastrous note losing openers Sebastian Antony and Mousam Nathani with just one run on the board. However, H. Jagadeesh played positively in the company of skipper Sreekumar Nair and steadied the sinking boat with a second wicket partnership worth 35 runs.

And once Jagadeesh departed wickets started to fall at regular intervals. Ajay Kudua (14), Chandrasekara (18) and Suresh Kumar (17) did chip in small contributions but that was not enough for Kerala to put up a decent score.

On the other hand, Saurashtra openers Bushan Chauhan and wicketkeeper bat Sagar Jogyani (45, 79 balls) began their first innings on a rather positive note. But, with Sreeshant striking a double blow, the visitor was left in a spot of bother at 26 for two.

First change bowler Prasanth Chandran also struck in the very first over after tea to leave Saurashtra at 34 for three. However, Sagar and Jayadev added a valuable 47 for the third wicket and shored the team to safety.

Jayadev, who had a wonderful day behind the stumps taking four catches and a stumping effort, proved his mettle with the bat scoring 22 runs. But, Prasanth scalped two more and Oasis bagged one to leave the visitor at 146 for six at close. With a strong tail, Saurashtra has a good chance to build a sizeable lead from where they can call the shots over their opponents in the next couple of days.

The scores: Kerala — 1st innings: M. Nathani c Thanki b S. Maniyar 1, S. Antony c Vegada b Sandeep P.J 0, Jagadeesh H c Sagar bt Sandeep M. 30, Sreekumar Nair c Sagar b Sandeep M 9, Ajay Kudua c Thanki b Sandeep P.J. 14, Sunil Oasis c Sagar b Sandeep M 5, Chandrasekara c Sagar b Sandeep M 18, Suresh Kumar b Sandeep M 17, Prasanth Chandran (run out) 11, Tinu Yohanan (st) Sagar b Dhruve 0, Sreesanth (not out) 2.

Extras (b-1, lb-4, nb-3, w-2) 10. Total 117 in 38.1 overs

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-1, 3-37, 4-47, 5-58, 6-64, 7-86, 8-104, 9-115.

Saurashtra bowling: Sandeep P.J. 16-1-46-2, Sandeep M. 18-3-55-6, Maulik Thanki 3-0-10-0, Rakesh V. Dhruve 1.2-0-1-1.

Saurashtra — 1st innings: Bushan Chauhan b Sreesanth 8, Sagar Jogyani c Mousam b Oasis 45, S.H. Kotak c Kudwa b Sreesanth 0, Prakash Bhatt c Mousam b Prasanth Chandran 7, Jayadev Shah c Mousam b Prasanth Chandran 22, Nikhil Rathod c Suresh b Prasanth Chandran 27, Rakesh Dhruve 16 (batting), Virendra Vegada 0 (batting). Extras (b-1, nb-18, w-1) 20. Total 146 for six in 40 overs.

Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-26, 3-34, 4-81, 5-115, 6-145.

Kerala bowling: Yohanan 11-0-39-0, Sreesanth 12-3-51-2, Prasanth Chandran 12-5-38-3, Oasis 4-0-17-1, Sreekumar Nair 1-1-0-0.

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