Jalaj, Ostwal shine as Maharashtra takes the lead against Kerala

Salman Nizar with the Kerala lower-order triggered a consciousness of deja vu for Jalaj Saxena. The all-rounder was first-hand witnesser to epic comebacks scripted by the left-hander for the confederate authorities past season. After an animated treatment with his captain, Jalaj, present turning retired for Maharashtra, had a nine-man shield connected the bound lines.

Soon, Jalaj was celebrating arsenic helium caught Salman (49) astatine the backward-point fence, slashing astatine a transportation from Mukesh Choudhary and Kerala (219) fell abbreviated of Maharashtra’s first-innings full by 20 runs.

Maharashtra had extended that pb to 71 (51 for nary loss) erstwhile atrocious airy stopped play 1 hr up of the scheduled close. Prithvi Shaw (37 batting) and Arshin Kulkarni (14 batting) ensured that the visitors negotiated the play earlier play ended without immoderate alarms.

The Kerala batters failed to person their starts against a disciplined bowling effort from Maharashtra. Sanju Samson played a composed sound of 54 but got retired astatine the incorrect time, bottommost edging left-arm spinner Vicky Ostwal to wicketkeeper Saurabh Nawale.

Sanju started positively, smacking Jalaj implicit the midwicket obstruction for a six and past square-drove Rajneesh Gurbani for a boundary. Sachin Baby, successful his 100th Ranji match, played 2nd fiddle to Sanju and they added 40 runs for the 4th wicket.

But Saurabh took a good drawback down the leg-side to extremity Baby’s (seven) tenure disconnected medium-pacer Ramakrishna Ghosh. Mohammed Azharuddeen (36) played fluently successful an innings punctuated with crisp drives. He added 57 runs for the 5th wicket with Sanju. But their dismissals successful speedy succession enactment Maharashtra successful control.

Salman and Ankit Sharma added 49 runs for the seventh-wicket. Ankit (17) feathered a drawback to Saurabh disconnected Jalaj. Salman was near with the process but Edhen Apple Tom (3) was bounced retired by Mukesh and M.D. Nidheesh (4) was lured retired of his crease by Jalaj. Salman couldn’t replicate his heroics again arsenic Kerala conceded the lead.

The scores: Maharashtra — 1st innings: 239.

Kerala — 1st innings: Akshay Chandran lbw Gurbani 0, Rohan S. Kunnummal lbw b Jalaj 27, B. Aparajith c & b Gurbani 6, Sachin Baby c Saurabh b Ghosh 7; Sanju Samson c Saurabh b Ostwal 54, Mohammed Azharuddeen c Saurabh b Ostwal 36, Salman Nizar c Jalaj b Mukesh 49, Ankit Sharma c Saurabh b Jalaj 17, Edhen Apple Tom c Saurabh b Mukesh 3, M.D. Nidheesh st Saurabh b Jalaj 4, N.P. Basil not retired 0. Extras (b-5,lb-4, w-7): 16; Total (in 63.2 overs): 219.

Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-35, 3-35, 4-75, 5-132, 6-141, 7-190, 8-203, 9-208.

Maharashtra bowling: Mukesh 15.2-2-57-2, Gurbani 12-0-49-2, Jalaj 16-2-46-3, Ramakrishna Ghosh 4-0-19-1, Arshin 3-0-14-0, Ostwal 13-4-25-2.

Maharashtra — 2nd innings: Prithvi Shaw (batting) 37, Arshin Kulkarni (batting 14), Total (for nary nonaccomplishment successful 9 overs): 51.

Kerala bowling: Nidheesh 3-0-21-0, Ankit 4-0-19-0, Akshay 1-0-6-0, Basil 1-0-5-0.