Nagpur, Feb 28 (PTI) – The Ranji Trophy final has entered its third day, and Vidarbha is firmly on the front foot against Kerala at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium here. By lunchtime, Kerala managed to crawl to 219 for 5, but they are still trailing by 160 runs following Vidarbha’s mammoth first innings score of 379.
Vidarbha’s standout player, bowler Harsh Dubey, has been particularly influential. He struck twice during the first session today, bringing his season wicket tally to 68, which matches the record for the most wickets taken in a single Ranji Trophy season. This performance places him among the league’s elite bowlers. Kerala's batsmen struggled against his clever bowling, managing only 88 runs over nearly 32 overs during the session.
Key performances for Kerala include Aditya Sarwate, who added 79 runs to his overnight score before being caught at first slip off Dubey's bowling, and captain Sachin Baby, who remains not out at 52. Despite solid contributions, the loss of Sarwate and Salman Nizar (21) has left Kerala on shaky ground. Dubey's second victim of the session, Nizar, was dismissed leg-before-wicket just before lunch.
Kerala's batting has been characterized by slow progress and the need to consolidate against Vidarbha’s disciplined bowling attack. Vidarbha’s innings was bolstered by significant contributions from Danish Malewar and Karun Nair, scoring 153 and 86 runs respectively. Kerala's bowlers, MD Nidheesh and Eden Apple Tom, both took three wickets each, but they faced strong resistance from Vidarbha’s batters who built their score steadily over 123.1 overs.
At lunch on the third day, the atmosphere is tense. With Vidarbha leading by 160 runs, the match is leaning heavily toward their favor. The ball's behavior has been noted as significant, with reports of rough patches forming from bowlers' footprints, potentially aiding spin as the match progresses.
Kerala’s ability to rebound will hinge largely on skipper Sachin Baby's capacity to convert his current not-out score of 52 to something more substantial. The pressure is palpable as they attempt to avoid the collapse of their innings. With many eyes on Baby to lead by example, the team will have to utilize all their batting resources to stay competitive.
Meanwhile, Vidarbha's players, buoyed by their performance, will aim to tighten their grip on the match post-lunch. Their confidence is evident, with Dubey's successful strike rate adding to the momentum. The combination of Dubey's bowling and the collective efforts of their batting unit creases the scoreboard luxuriously, leaving Kerala to chase not only runs but also the game itself.
The Ranji Trophy is the premier first-class cricket tournament held by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and such matches tend to showcase thrilling performances. With the game still very much alive, every session could drastically alter the match’s direction.
Both teams know the importance of this final, and the intensity will ramp up as they push toward the latter stages of the match. The coming hours will reveal whether Kerala can mount a significant challenge or whether Vidarbha will secure their position as champions of the 2024-25 season.