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Kerala takes first innings lead

Sports Reporter

Palakkad: Rohan Prem and debutant K.J. Rakesh handled the pressure impressively and steered the Kerala team to safety on Thursday.

The 22-year-old Rohan and the 24-year-old Rakesh came up with a crucial 74-run fifth wicket stand which played a big part in host Kerala taking the first innings lead against Goa on the final day of the Ranji Trophy Group ‘A’ Plate league clash at the Fort Maidan here.

Rohan came up with his second first class century (138) and Rakesh chipped in with a vital 44.

Earlier, overnight batsmen, Sreekumar Nair (155) fell leg before, to a testing ball from left-arm spinner S. Jakiti.

Rohan and Rakesh looked comfortable to take the team past the visitor’s total. But, Jakiti struck again and trapped the dangerous looking Rohan leg before shortly before lunch.

The post lunch session turned out to be dramatic. Kerala lost Vinan G. Nair, Rakesh and skipper S. Cheruvathur, all leg before, to the spinners.

Both Ryan Ninan and Jakiti bowled with accuracy and put the pressure on the home team. But, Anish and Prasanth Chandran safely navigated the team to the first innings lead much to the delight of the crowd.

KCA files protest

Meanwhile, the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has filed a protest with the match referee with regard to Goa fielding four guest players (Arun Kumar, Ryan Ninan, Santosh Shinde and Ajay Ratra) in its playing eleven against Kerala in the Ranji Trophy Group ‘A’ clash, which concluded at the Fort Maidan on Thursday.

The KCA secretary, T.C. Mathew, confirmed it with The Hindu over phone. “It’s against the rules and we have taken up the issue with the match referee with the copy marked to the BCCI. It’s left to the board to decide the next course of action.”

Kerala does not have any guest player in its team.

The scores:

Goa — 1st innings: 460.

Kerala — 1st innings: R.V. Gomez lbw b Shinde 11, Sebastian Anthony lbw b Shinde 7, V.A. Jagadeesh lbw b Bhandekar 47, Sreekumar Nair lbw b Jakiti 155, Rohan Prem c. S. Kamath b Jakiti 138, K.J. Rakesh lbw b Jakiti 44, Vinan G. Nair lbw b Ninan 10, S. Cheruvathur lbw b Jakiti 9, S. Anish b Shinde 22, Prasanth Chandran (not out) 9, Tinu Yohanan lbw b Ninan 6, Extras: (b-9, lb-11, nb-8) 28; Total (in 186 overs) 486.

Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-19, 3-111, 4-352, 5-426, 6-437, 7-445, 8-458, 9-475.

Goa bowling: Bhandekar 28-9-70-1, Shinde 19-5-49-3, Jakiti 42-10-139-4, Ninan 61-20-123-2, Angle 28-5-66-0, Arun Kumar 1-0-4-0, Kamath 7-2-15-0.

Goa — 2nd innings: S. Kamath (not out) 34, Advit Katkar lbw b Yohanan 0, Ankit Desai lbw b Rakesh 5, J. Arun Kumar c Rohan b Anish 7, Ajay Ratra (not out) 19, Extras: (b-1, nb-3) 4, Total (for three wkts. in 19 overs) 69.

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-29, 3-44.

Kerala bowling: Prasanth 3-0-10-0, Yohanan 3-0-18-1, Anish 7-1-20-1, Rakesh 6-3-20-1.

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