The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Kerala in command

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Friday, Dec 24, 2004

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Kerala in command

By Our Sports Reporter

PALAKKAD, DEC 23. Host Kerala, after wrapping up its opponent for a paltry 140, built a commanding 288 runs overall lead on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Plate Group `A' match at the Fort Maidan grounds here today.

At close of play, Kerala was 109 for three in its second essay. Skipper Sreekumar Nair was batting at 29 and giving him company was Sunil Oasis with an unbeaten 16.

It was not a bright morning session for J & K. Medium-pacer Prasanth Chandran struck two early blows and had the visitors struggling at three for 33. However, skipper Dhruv Mahajan (78, 105b, 148m, 13x4) and Sajjad turned the tables in J & K's favour with a patient 70-run partnership for the fourth wicket. But just when the going looked good, spinner Suresh had the long-staying Sajjad edging to keeper M. Nathani for 29.

Nightmare

The post lunch session turned out to be a virtual nightmare for J & K. From 125 for five in 49.2 overs, it lost its next five wickets for just 15 runs. In the process, it also fell short of the follow-on mark by 29 runs. It was left-arm spinner Sreekumar (three for 5) and Suresh Kumar (four for 25) who did the damage for the team. Despite a good 179-run lead, the host did not enforce the follow-on. In the second innings, left-arm pacer Pranu Mahajan had the Kerala openers back in pavilion quite early. Mausam Nathani soon followed suit.

The scores:

Kerala — 1st innings: 319

J & K — 1st innings: Sajjad c M. Nathani b Suresh Kumar 29, Fayaz lbw b S Cheruvatoor 0, Kanvaljeet Singh lbw b Prasanth 2, Majid Dar b Prasanth 4, D. Mahajan c M. Nathani b Sreekumar Nair 78, H. Ronga c Prasanth b Suresh Kumar 5, Arshad Bhat c S. Oasis b Suresh 3, Sameer K lbw b Suresh 3, Abid Nabi b Sreekumar Nair 4, J. Singh c M.P. Sorab b Sreekumar Nair 0, Pranu Mahajan (not out) 0; Extras (b-4, lb-1, nb-7) 12; Total (in 56.1 overs) 140.

Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-28, 3-32, 4-102, 5-115, 6-130, 7-136, 8-140, 9-140.

Kerala bowling: Prasanth Chandran 14-2-55-2, Sony Cheruvatoor 12-4-25-1, Suresh Kumar 16-6-25-4, Sreekumar Nair 4.1-2-5-3, K. Ananthapadmanabhan 5-1-12-0, Sunil Oasis 5-1-13-0.

Kerala — 2nd innings: M. Sorab c & b P. Mahajan 14, Sebastian A c A. Bhat b P. Mahajan 11, M. Nathani c S. Khujuria b Abid Nabi 20, Sreekumar Nair (batting) 29, Sunil Oasis (batting) 16; Extras (b-10, lb-2, w-7) 19; Total (for three wickets in 43 overs) 109.

Fall of wicket: 1-22, 2-41, 3-62.

J & K bowling: Abid Nabi 11.5-2-35-1, P. Mahajan 13-5-28-2, D. Mahajan 7.1-2-17-0, S. Khujuria 8-4-12-0, J. Singh 3-1-5-0.

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