Heartbroken: Baby, who showcased patience and concentration, could not clear deep mid-wicket to get to his century.
| Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
Sachin Baby did all the hard work in the toughest of conditions. He undid all that with a shot that might haunt him for a long time.
With Kerala inching closer to the Vidarbha first-innings score, and he himself to a hundred in his 100th First Class match, the Ranji Trophy final no less, the Kerala captain went down on his knee to slog-sweep Parth Rekhade. The visitor, at that time, needed 56 runs to get the first-innings lead, and he was batting on 98.
He watched in horror the ball travelling high in the air towards deep mid-wicket, where Karun Nair took the catch. That was not just the end of Baby (235b, 345min, 10×4), it was also the end of the last recognised partnership, as the Kerala men chased Vidarbha’s 379 at the VCA Stadium on Friday.
Kerala captain Baby walks back after getting out at 98 during Ranji Trophy Final between Kerala and Vidarbha.
| Photo Credit:
NIRMAL HARINDRAN
They were all out, in what proved to be the third day’s final over, for 342. So Vidarbha will come out to bat on Saturday in the second innings with a lead of 37. With two days remaining, and with two sides boasting fine spinners and the wicket promising more turn, this match need not be all about the lead.
Day three had begun with Baby gently caressing Nachiket Bhute through the covers, as Kerala resumed at its overnight score of 131 for three. But he went for his shots only when necessary; he was determined to stay firm on a wicket that clearly was encouraging the tweakers.
But his fourth-wicket stand of 93 with Aditya Sarwate (79, 185b, 275min, 10×4) was broken by Harsh Dubey, the young left-arm spinner who would go on to set a new record for the highest number of wickets in a Ranji season (69). He produced an outside edge of Sarwate’s defensive bat and it ended in an easy catch at silly mid-off.
Harsh Dubey set a new record for the highest number of wickets in a Ranji season (69).
| Photo Credit:
NIRMAL HARINDRAN
Neither Salman Nizar nor Mohammed Azharuddeen, the two middle-order batters who held the Kerala batting together this season, could support their captain long enough. Jalaj Saxena, though, offered hope.
The seventh-wicket stand was worth 46 when Baby, who had been threatening to play possibly the innings of his life, committed the first real mistake.
And for once, Kerala’s tail did not wag, either.
The scores:
Vidarbha – 1st Innings: 379.
Kerala – 1st Innings: Akshay Chandran b Nalkande 14, Rohan Kunnummal b Nalkande 0, Aditya Sarwate c Malewar b Dubey 79, Ahammed Imran c sub b Yash Thakur 37, Sachin Baby c Karun b Rekhade 98, Salman Nizar lbw b Dubey 21, Mohammed Azharuddeen lbw b Nalkande 34, Jalaj Saxena b Rekhade 28, Eden Apple Tom b Rekhade 10, M.D. Nidheesh lbw b Dubey 1, N.P. Basil (not out) 0; Extras (lb-2, nb-13, w-5): 20; Total (in 125 overs): 342.
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-14, 3-107, 4-170, 5-219, 6-278, 7-324, 8-337, 9-338.
Vidarbha bowling: Nalkande 13-2-52-3, Yash Thakur 17-1-83-1, Bhute 12-3-41-0, Dubey 44-11-88-3, Rekhade 30-7-65-3, Karnewar 9-5-11-0.
Published – February 28, 2025 07:22 pm IST