Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Feb 12 : Kerala secured their place in the Ranji Trophy semifinals for only the second time in history after a thrilling draw against Jammu and Kashmir at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium on Wednesday.
The match went down to the wire, but Kerala advanced thanks to their slender one-run lead in the first innings.
Starting the final day at 100/2 while chasing a daunting target of 299, Kerala’s approach, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), was clear—survival over scoring.
The first session saw Akshay Chandran and Sachin Baby showing remarkable patience, adding just 13 runs in the first 10 overs while keeping their wickets intact.
The J&K’s pacers—Umar Nazir Mir, Yudhvir Singh, and Auqib Nabi—tried to force a breakthrough with short-pitched bowling, but Kerala’s batters refused to budge.
J&K finally got a breakthrough after 44 overs when Chandran, who had battled for 48 off 183 balls, was dismissed at short leg following a successful review. By lunch, Kerala had reached 146/3, still needing to bat out two sessions for survival.
The second session saw J&K’s bowlers turn the heat up. Sachin Baby (48) edged a rising delivery behind, and Jalaj Saxena followed soon after, lured into a drive.
At 194/6, Kerala was in deep trouble. But just when the game seemed to be slipping away, Salman Nizar, who had scored a brilliant 112 in the first innings, once again came to Kerala’s rescue.
Nizar and Mohammed Azharuddeen stood firm, soaking up the pressure. Their partnership lasted 42.4 overs, adding 70 crucial runs and frustrating J&K’s bowlers. Azharuddeen, who had struggled earlier in the tournament, delivered a timely 67, ensuring Kerala’s safe passage.
With just 30 minutes left in the game, J&K’s last desperate push fell short. Kerala finished at 295/6 in 126 overs, securing their semifinal berth on first-innings advantage and leaving J&K heartbroken—(KNO)
