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Double delight for Samabasiva Sarma

P. K. Ajith Kumar

MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENT: Sambasiva Sarma of Kerala achieved a rare distinction of scoring a hundred in each innings.

KOZHIKODE: As the sun went partially behind the clouds and a cool wind blew across the Palakkad’s Fort Maidan on Wednesday afternoon Sambasiva Sarma achieved what no Kerala cricketer could in the State’s 57-year history in Ranji Trophy. He scored a hundred in both innings.

It is a remarkable achievement. In the first innings, the rest of the Kerala top-order was crumbling against an excellent spell of medium-pace bowling from Tejinder Billa; but for Sambasiva’s 103, the host would have been bowled out cheaply.

In the second innings, the team had to face the crafty leg-spin of Amit Mishra, fresh from his exploits against Australia in the Test series, on the final day, and somebody had to drop anchor if Kerala had to avert an innings defeat. Though the wicket was dead, Haryana’s hopes weren’t; if it could dismiss Sambasiva early, the host would have been under pressure. Haryana coach Amarjeet Kaypee said: “The 22-year-old showed superb temperament as he made an unbeaten 111.”

“That I could play a significant role in saving the match for my team means as much as the record to me,” Sambasiva told The Hindu.

“As this was my Ranji game of the season, I was under pressure to score some runs to retain my place in the side. Never could I have imagined that I would end up with two hundreds!””

He rates his hundred in the first innings higher.

“Because the conditions were tougher for batting,” he says.

“I could score more freely in the second innings because I was feeling more confident.”

Sambasiva, a qualified IT engineer, also holds the record for the highest score by a Kerala batsman on Ranji debut. He had made 79 against Vidarbha at Nagpur last year.

Early failures

But after a couple of failures, he was dropped from the squad. “That hurt me and I was determined to come back; and I knew I had to get runs here, otherwise I would find myself outside the squad once again,” says the Thiruvananthapuram-based player who has recently joined MRF, Chennai.

Sambasiva, who became interested in the game after watching his father Krishna Sarma play, came into reckoning following his fine show in the Under-22 circuit two years ago.

“I had also done well in the Buchi Babu tournament to stake my claim for a place in the Ranji team,” he says.

“I had been working hard on my game and became a better batsman after moving into the opening slot from the middle-order, on the advice of my coach Biju George.”

He is confident that Kerala has some fine young players who could take the team forward, provided they are nurtured properly.

“Players like Raiphy Vincent Gomez and Rohan Prem are extremely talented and with proper exposure, this team is capable of producing good results,” says the man who idolises former Australian skipper Steve Waugh.

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