RANJI TROPHY | Shikhar notches up this edition’s first ton as Jharkhand wins the initial exchanges

Tournaments change. Shikhar Mohan’s form doesn’t.

After making 85 and 52 in the Duleep Trophy final and then 60 in the Irani Cup, the left-handed opener scored an excellent143 (196b, 18x4, 2x6) for Jharkhand on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy match against Kerala at the Keenan Stadium. That was the first hundred of the 92nd edition of India’s premier domestic tournament. He deserves that honour.

His hundred and his partnerships for the first and second wickets had put the host in a strong position, but Kerala fought back gamely to ensure the honours were even on the opening day. Jharkhand finished at 289 for five on what appears to be a good wicket to bat on.

At one stage, Jharkhand was 250 for one, but it lost four wickets for the addition of another 29 runs. That collapse was caused by fine spells of off-spin by Jalaj Saxena and Vaisakh Chandran.

Earlier, the home team, opting to bat first, was given a fine start of 87 by Shikhar and his opening partner Sharandeep Singh (33, 92, 3x2). They saw off a probing spell with the new-ball by the hard-wokring M.D. Nidheesh.

Kerala was struggling for a breakthrough, which came only after 26 overs. It was provided by Jalaj, who removed Sharandeep with a ball that turned and disturbed the leg-stump.

Utkarsh Singh (71, 147b, 9x4) now joined Shikhar and they looked in control. Their stand was worth 163 when Shikhar missed the line and was bowled by Vaisakh. The 21-year-old, who had spent an eternity in the 90s before reaching his third Ranji hundred with a clean six off Jalaj, had begun to open up.

Utkarsh followed him soon in the dressing room. Vaisaksh then removed Robin Minz and Kounain Quraishi in quick succession, and it took a doughty effort from captain Virat Singh to see to it that there was no further damage till stumps.

The scores: Jharkhand — 1st innings: Shikhar Mohan b Vaisakh 143, Sharandeep Singh b Jalaj 33, Utkarsh Singh c Baby b Jalaj 71, Virat Singh (batting) 12, Robin Minz b Vaisakh 10, Kounain Quraishi c Baby b Vaisakh 10, Aditya Singh (batting) 5; Extras (b-4, lb-1) 5; Total (for five wkts. in 90 overs): 289.

Fall of wickets: 1-87, 2-250, 3-252, 4-269, 5-279.

Kerala bowling: Nidheesh 12-2-33-0, Eden 10-1-45-0, Jalaj 31-7-80-2, Sarwate 15-4-44-0, Vaisakh 21-3-71-3, Abhishek 1-0-11-0.

Toss: Jharkhand.