AGENCY
KALYANI: Rain played spoilsport to Kerala’s hope of securing an outright win as they had to settle for three points by virtue of their first innings lead against Jammu and Kashmir in their Ranji Trophy group C match at Bengal Cricket Academy here on Sunday.
Following on, Jammu and Kashmir were tottering at 91 for four — trailing by 94 runs when rain saved them from an innings defeat halting the proceedings at 1:21 PM. The final day’s play could not resume again and the match was called off at 4:00 PM with Kerala getting three points from the game.
This was for the third consecutive day rain had halted the proceedings and J and K had a lucky escape with a point.
Wet outfield had forced a 30-minute delay this morning. Starting on overnight score of 106 for 5 in first innings, J and K lost their remaining five wickets in 15 runs as Kerala enforced follow-on with a massive 205-run lead. Kerala spinners took eight wickets in J and K’s first innings and it was their left-arm orthodox K Monish who led the way with exceptional figures of 4/9 from his eight overs. Iqbal Abdulla (3/36) and Jalaj Saxena (1/3) were the other two spinners who brought about opposition downfall for 121 in 44 overs.
Parveez Rasool’s boys began their second innings ominously when Basil Thampi bowled Adil Reshi for a duck to reduced them to 0/1. Later left-arm spinner Abdulla (2/21) struck twice in two overs to reduce
them to 91/4 in 31.3 overs when rain cut short a gripping finish.
Opener Shubham Khajuria remained steady at the other end with an unbeaten 39 (6×4).
score board
Kerala 1st innings 306/10
Jammu & Kashmir 1st innings 121/10
Jammu & Kashmir 2nd innings (following on)
SP Khajuria not out 39
Adil Reshi b Basil Thampi 00
Pranav Gupta c †Samson b Manukrishnan 23
ID Singh c & b Iqbal Abdulla 08
Parvez Rasool* c Monish b Iqbal Abdulla 08
Bandeep Singh not out 09
Extras 04
Total 91/4