Chances of chasing down 399 in the fourth innings being slim, Kerala’s best hope in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final against Jammu & Kashmir was to bat out the last day in Pune. Despite losing two wickets on Day 4 and being reduced to 180/6 with more than 40 overs remaining, Kerala hung on to ensure progress on the basis of the one-run lead secured in the first innings.
It was a day of drama and anticipation. There were phases when J&K looked like making it to the semi-finals for the first time. They broke partnerships and dislodged batters who had spent a lot of time in the middle. But when it came to landing the knockout punch, they were stonewalled by the dogged batters from Kerala, who showed sound game awareness. It was their first semi-final entry after 2018-19. They will travel to Gujarat and take on the home team for a place in the final.
Salman Nizar, who made an unbeaten 122 in the first innings and added 81 with Basil Thampi for the last wicket to snatch his team a miraculous lead by the thinnest of margins, was at it again. Coming in at No. 7, the left-handed batter remained not out on 44 and played 162 deliveries. Mohammed Azharuddeen batted for 118 balls and stayed there till the end scoring 67 runs. These two frustrated the J&K bowlers for almost 43 overs.
Kerala didn’t make an attempt to go for it after losing two wickets on the previous day. Their plan was to play out the overs and make that first-innings lead count. It was not the easiest challenge on a fifth-day pitch. Opener Akshay Chandran played 183 balls to make 48. Captain Sachin Baby consumed 162 deliveries at No. 4 to make 48.
However, J&K still had a chance when they took the sixth wicket. Another dismissal could have opened up the game for them. That’s where Nizar and Azharuddeen took it away. The pitch had not deteriorated a lot, which was evident from the way the J&K batters had piled up the runs a day earlier. Kerala knew they had a chance and they gave it their best to pull this off.
Brief scores: J&K 280 & 399/9 decl drew with Kerala 281 & 295/6 (Mohammed Azharuddeen 67 not out). Kerala advance to semis on the basis of first-innings lead.