Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Wet outfield and Punjab tail frustrate Kerala on Day 2

Kerala made early inroads but Punjab’s last wicket pair of Mayank and Siddharth added 37 runs in 15 overs as the visitors progressed from 143 for nine to 180 without any further loss at stumps.

Punjab’s Krish Bhagat plays a shot during the Ranji match against Kerala. | Photo Credit: Nirmal Harindran/ The Hindu

A long delay due to a wet outfield, coupled with a stubborn 10th-wicket stand between Mayank Markande (27 not out) and Siddharth Kaul (15 not out), frustrated host Kerala on the second day of their Ranji Trophy match against Punjab at the KCA St. Xavier’s College Ground on Saturday.

After rain washed out the first two sessions on the opening day, further disappointment awaited Kerala on the second day as a wet outfield delayed the start of play. Though there was no rain, the sun didn’t shine brightly enough to dry the damp patches near the sightscreen at the college end. Umpires S. Ravi and Ulhas Gandhe, after five inspections, finally decided to begin play at 2:45 p.m. under a clear sky.

Kerala made early inroads but Punjab’s last wicket pair of Mayank and Siddharth added 37 runs in 15 overs as the visitors progressed from 143 for nine to 180 without any further loss at stumps.

Aditya Sarwate on his debut for Kerala took a fifer (5/59) but fluffed an easy catch offered by Siddharth Kaul, when the batter was on nine, off Basil Thampi. It was the second catch which Kerala dropped on the truncated day with captain Sachin Baby dropping Ramandeep Singh off Sarwate in the second over of the day.

The miss didn’t prove costly as Ramandeep Singh (43) threw away his wicket soon after while trying to dominate Sarwate. Ramandeep charged down the track to Sarwate and was stumped by Azharuddeen. Ramandeep and debutant Krish Bhagat (15) added 50 runs for the sixth wicket before the latter feathered a catch to Azharuddeen off Jalaj Saxena. Gurnor Brar (14) struck a towering six off Jalaj but was defeated by a ball that kept low and was castled.

The third debutant in Punjab ranks Emanjot hit a tame return catch to Sarwate as Punjab slumped to 143 for nine. However, Mayank and Siddharth pinched singles and struck the odd big blows to add crucial runs for the last wicket.

The Scorecard

Punjab – Ist innings: L Abhay Choudhary c Baby b Sarwate 0, Naman Dhir c Aparajith b Sarwate 10, Anmolpreet Singh b Jalaj 28, Prabhsimran Singh b Sarwate 12, Nehal Wadhera b Jalaj 9, Krish Bhagat c Azharuddeen b Jalaj 15, Ramandeep Singh st Azharuddeen b Sarwate 43, Mayank Markande batting 27, Gurnoor Brar b Jalaj 14, Emanjot Singh Chahal c& b Sarwate 1, Siddharth Kaul batting 15

Extras (b-4, lb-2): 6

Total (for nine wkts. in 77 overs): 180

Fall-of-wickets: 1-0, 2-15, 3-37, 4-59, 5-62, 6-112, 7-122, 8-140, 9-143

Kerala bowling: Sarwate 3­0-12-59-5, Thampi 8-0-28-0, Jalaj 28-4-70-4, Aparajith 11-2-17-0.