Ranji Trophy: Jalaj’s late strikes boost Kerala’s push for victory

Odisha would be looking for another divine intervention on Wednesday after bad light stopped play moments after Kerala made late inroads on the third day of the Ranji Trophy match at the Sports Hub Greenfield Stadium here on Tuesday.

Following on, Odisha was tottering at 102 for four when bad light and rain ended play, half-an-hour before the scheduled close. The away team needs 78 for more to Kerala bat again.

Jalaj Saxena gave the host a massive lift when he castled Odisha skipper Subhranshu Senapati (30) and dismissed the well-settled Gourav Choudhary (53) caught by substitute Varun Nayanar at short-leg within a span of three deliveries on what turned out to be the penultimate over of the day.

Gourav and Subhranshu had defied the Kerala attack in the post-tea session by adding 71 runs for the third wicket. But Subhranshu missed a straighter one from Jalaj while Gourav was defeated by a ball which bounced a little more than the batter had anticipated.

The uneven bounce had made batting challenging and both Shantanu Mishra (two) and Om Munde (nine) fell to the vagaries of the pitch.

Earlier, resuming at 114 for three in reply to Kerala’s first-innings score of 404, the visitor was pushed early on the back foot when M.D. Nidheesh trapped Sandeep Pattnaik (two) in front. Ninad Rathva (one) also fell cheaply.

But Subhranshu (50) and Rajesh Dhuper (34) counterattacked to add 60 runs for the sixth wicket.

However, Odisha lost wickets in clusters after Rajesh was caught by Salman Nizar at short-leg off Vaisakh Chandran.

It slumped to 193 for nine from 185 for five. Lalit Yadav (37) smote the spinners for four sixes and four in the extended lunch session to give Odisha some hopes of saving the follow on. But Sarvate pinned him in front soon after the break to end the Odisha innings for 225.

The spin trio of Vaisakh (four for 40), Sarvate (three for 56) and Jalaj (two for 76) shared the spoils

The scores: Kerala — 1st innings: 404.

Odisha — 1st innings: Shantanu Mishra lbw b Jalaj 32, Gourav Choudhury c Azharuddeen b Sarvate 50, Om Munde lbw b Sarvate 14, Subhranshu Senapathi b Jalaj 50, Sandeep Pattnaik lbw b Nidheesh 2, Ninad Rathva lbw b Vaisakh 1, Rajesh Dhuper c Salman b Vaisakh 34, Soumya Lenka b Vaisakh 0, Rajesh Mohanty c Nidheesh bt Vaisakh 2; Lalit Yadav lbw b Sarvate 37, Badal Biswal (not out) 1; Extras (lb-2): 2; Total (in 84.1 overs): 225.

Fall of wickets: 1-60, 2-92, 3-103, 4-116, 5-125, 6-185, 7-185, 8-185, 9-193.

Kerala bowling: Nidheesh 11-2-35-1, Sarvate 28.1-10-56-3, Jalaj 23-2-76-2, Abijith 5-0-16-0, Vaisakh 17-2-40-4.

Odisha — 2nd innings: Shantanu Mishra b Sarvate 2, Gourav Choudhury c sub (Varun) b Jalaj 53, Om Munde lbw b Vaisakh 9, Subhranshu Senapati b Jalaj 30, Sandeep Pattnaik (batting) 2, Ninad Rathva (batting) 0; Extras (b-5, nb-1): 6, Total (for four wkts. in 35 overs): 102.

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-29, 3-100, 4-101.

Kerala bowling: Nidheesh 6-3-12-0, Sarvate 8-1-37-1, Vaisakh 11-0-25-1, Abijith 3-1-6-0, Jalaj 6-1-15-2, Vishnu 1-0-2-0.