Ranji Trophy | Daunting task for Bengal on final day

Kerala's bizarre tactics allow Bengal a chance to force a draw in the Ranji Trophy match.

 Kerala’s tactics were bizarre after having the opposition on the mat as it allowed Bengal a whiff of a chance to force a draw on the final day of the Ranji Trophy match at the St.Xavier’s College ground here.

Kerala didn’t enforce the follow-on after bundling out Bengal for 180 in the first innings. The host batted for two sessions and declared the second innings at 265 for six to leave Bengal a mammoth target of 448 to win. Bengal finished day three at 77 for two on a track with variable bounce and faces a daunting task on Monday.

Kerala ended the day on a high as leg spinner Shreyas Gopal got a delivery to climb and took the edge of Sudip Kumar Gharami’s (31) bat and to the safe hands of Akshay Chandran in the slips. 

Gharami and Abhimanyu Easwarn till then had played the Kerala spinners with ease and had added 50 runs for the second wicket. Easwaran once again showed poise and technique against Kerala spinners to remain unbeaten on 31. Bengal’s fortunes on the final day will depend a lot on Easwaran.

Earlier, It only took 13 deliveries for Jalaj Saxena to wrap up the Bengal innings and end up with the career-best figures of nine for 68. Jalaj had Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal (9) edging a catch to Rohan Kunnummal at short leg and then castled Karan Lal for 35 to dismiss Bengal for 180.

Kerala needed a quick start and openers Rohan Kunnummal and Jalaj Saxena played the Bengal spinners comfortably and punished the loose deliveries without taking any undue risks. Rohan clattered a few boundaries and hit Ankit Mishra over long-on for a six to reach his half-century. Jalaj complemented his partner well as the openers scored briskly to add 91 runs for the first wicket. Rohan (51) was trapped in front off a grubber from Shahbaz.

Soon after, Jalaj missed his sweep against Ankit Mishra and out leg before for 37. Sachin Baby (50) and Akshay Chandran (36) added 87 runs for the third wicket before Baby perished to a big shot. Shreyas then attacked the Bengal spinners to score a rapid 50 off 58 balls as Kerala declared the innings at the stroke of tea.