When Sachin Baby edged one to the cordon on the second ball of the day, it felt like all of Kerala’s patient build-up might fizzle out before its zenith on day two. But, Mohammed Azharuddeen’s second First-Class century, his first in seven years, ensured Kerala had control of the Ranji Trophy semifinal against Gujarat in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
Azharuddeen (149 not out, 303b, 17×4) forged a mammoth 149-run stand for the sixth wicket with Salman Nizar after the fall of the early wicket to ensure his team grafted its way to 418 for seven at the end of the second day. While the first day’s play was a blockathon, the second day was only a tad better as Salman tied up one end while Azharuddeen took up the mantle of scoring.
Arzan Nagwaswalla received some help in the air with the new ball that was only five overs old heading into the day’s play. But, apart from Sachin’s wicket, the Gujarat pacer could not provide any further incursions. Fellow left-armer Jaymeet Patel induced an edge out of Azharuddeen, on 47, forcing him into a cover drive but the chance burst through the fingers of Manan Hingrajia at first slip.
Salman too rode his luck when a fine edge off Ravi Bishnoi was put down by Urvil Patel behind the stumps. Gujarat will also rue the DRS opportunities it missed as both batters were given a lifeline following the team’s decision not to review the on-field lbw decision.
Azharuddeen brought up his hundred off 175 balls, getting a standing ovation from the dugout for his valiant effort. Kerala’s two highest run-getters this season piled on the misery in the second session as the Gujarat side ran out of ideas to find a breakthrough.
Kerala batter Mohammed Azharuddeen in action.
| Photo Credit:
RV MOORTHY/The Hindu
Kerala batter Mohammed Azharuddeen in action.
| Photo Credit:
RV MOORTHY/The Hindu
Salman brought up his fifty off 185 balls with the innings’ first six, as he launched left-arm spinner Vishal Jayswal over mid-on before brandishing a salute to the dugout with the bat. While the first session of the day accounted for 87 runs, the two batters put on only 61 runs in 30 overs in the post-lunch session.
Jayswal provided the breakthrough four balls into the final session of play, removing Salman after a 368-ball association. Debutant Ahammed Imran looked enterprising during his 24-run knock, before being strangled down leg by Nagwaswalla with the third new ball.
With the ball beginning to turn consistently for the spinners and a rough patch developing outside the left-hand batter’s off stump, the Kerala’s experienced spin duo of Jalaj Saxena and Aditya Sarwate will be waiting to have a crack at the Gujarat batting-order on day three. But, Gujarat will have to get past centurion Azharuddeen first before he inflicts more damage in tandem with the tail.
