Sport - Cricket

Haryana comes up with a strong reply

PALAKKAD: A breezy knock by ’keeper Vinan G. Nair helped Kerala post a decent total but as the day wore on, that total was made to look increasingly less decent by a confident Haryana top-order.

The visiting side finished the second day of this Ranji Trophy Plate Group ‘A’ match at the Fort Maidan here on Monday at 190 for one in its first innings, replying to Kerala’s 334.

With Rahul Diwan (85 batting) and Sunny Singh (63 batting), looking so comfortable on a friendly track against a friendlier attack, the host has a couple of tough days ahead; and there is the prospect of facing the leg-spin of Amit Mishra on the final day.

Mishra took two wickets after a barren opening day. His second wicket was that of Vinan, who had made 65 off just 87 balls.

His innings was in sharp contrast to the snail’s pace at his teammates batted. Vinan, who added 76 for the ninth wicket with Prasanth Chandran (33), played some nice strokes, including a big six over long-on off Mishra.

Kerala, which resumed at 214 for six, was dismissed in the last over before lunch. Medium-pacer Jitender Billa was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with a career-best six for 58.

Haryana was off to a fluent start with Diwan and ’keeper Nitin Saini adding 52 for the first wicket in just over 10 overs.

After Saini fell, caught well by Sambasiva at leg-slip off Tinu, mistiming a hook, Sunny joined Diwan and they have added 138 for the second wicket so far.

The scores:

Kerala — 1st Innings: Sambasiva Sarma lbw b Billa 103, Sony Cheruvathur b Billa 0, V.A. Jagadeesh b Billa 0, Sreekumar Nair c Saini b Billa 28, Rohan Prem b Billa 35, Raiphy Vincent Gomez c Rana b Lavasa 15, K.J. Rakesh run out 24; Vinan G. Nair c Rana b Mishra 65, M.E. Sanuth b Mishra 11, Prasanth Chandran c Mishra b Billa 33, Tinu Yohanna (not out) 2, Extras (b-3, lb-5, nb-9, w-1) 18; Total (in 123.3 overs) 334.

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-3, 3-48, 4-126, 5-149, 6-214, 7-222, 8-253, 9-329, 10-334.

Haryana bowling: Billa 23.3-4-58-6, Rana 19-4-52-0, Budwar 17-4-51-0, Vashisht 15-6-29-0, Mishra 31-10-83-2, Dhruv 8-2-24-0, Lavasa 2-0-8-1, Sunny 5-0-17-0, Sharma 3-0-4-0.

Haryana — 1st innings: Nitin Saini c Sambasiva b Yohanan 29, Rahul Diwan (batting) 85, Sunny Singh (batting) 63, Extras (lb-1, nb-11, w-1) 13; Total (for one wicket in 56 overs) 190.

Fall of wickets: 1-52.

Kerala bowling: Yohanan 10-2-38-1, Prasanth 10-0-52-0, Sony 5-0-24-0, Rakesh 8-2-15-0, Sanuth 14-3-37-0, Sreekumar 9-4-23-0.

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