Thiruvananthapuram: A sense of foreboding hung heavy over the Greenfield Stadium as Kerala’s batting order collapsed, scoring just 219 runs in response to Maharashtra’s 239. The grey, overcast skies seemed to mirror the home team’s struggle, as their innings ended with a flurry of unfulfilled potential.
Maharashtra, in their second innings, swiftly capitalized on this advantage, racing to a commanding 51 for no loss in just 9 overs. Opener Prithvi Shaw led the charge with a dazzling unbeaten 37, before bad light prematurely halted play an hour before the scheduled close on Friday.
This 71-run deficit was a particularly bitter pill for last season’s finalists to swallow. The sting was even sharper considering they had won the toss on Day 1 and had Maharashtra reeling at a precarious 18 for 5.
Kerala’s innings resumed today with a glimmer of hope that quickly evaporated into disarray, primarily due to a confused and indecisive top-order display.
Opener Akshay Chandran endured a torturous 21-ball struggle before being dismissed for a duck on Thursday, a start that set a challenging tone.
Baba Aparajith’s stay at the crease was brief, scoring just 6 runs, while Rohan Kunnumal, after a promising and elegant 27, inexplicably gave away his wicket by misjudging a shot.
The crowd’s anticipation surged when Sanju Samson walked out to bat today. He lived up to the hype for a period, displaying his characteristic flair with powerful whips, drives, and lofted shots.
Samson’s dazzling knock of 54 was a blend of elegance and aggression, but it was cut short by a faint under-edge off Vicky Ostwal, smartly caught by wicketkeeper Saurabh Nawale.
Captain Mohammed Azharuddeen contributed a composed 36, but he too fell victim to Ostwal, edging a delivery to Nawale behind the stumps. The task of stabilizing the innings then fell to the consistently dependable Salman Nizar.
Under immense pressure, Nizar remained calm, skillfully taking singles, protecting the tailenders, and valiantly pushing Kerala towards a respectable total with an impressive 49. However, his dismissal, caught at deep backward point by Jalaj Saxena off Mukesh Choudhary, left him agonizingly short of both his half-century and the crucial first-innings lead.
While the pitch presented its own challenges, Kerala’s downfall seemed more a result of a psychological capitulation than purely technical shortcomings. Under pressure, they faltered. Not only did Kerala’s top order struggle, but even those in the middle and lower order who managed to get starts failed to convert them into match-altering scores.
“We put in significant effort on our batting during the off-season camps,” remarked Kerala pacer MD Nidheesh, acknowledging the team’s preparations. However, these efforts did not translate into performance on the field today.
As the Maharashtra team walked off with renewed confidence and a substantial lead, Kerala was left gazing at the gloomy skies, desperately seeking answers and a path back into this crucial Ranji Trophy encounter.
Brief Scores: Maharashtra 239 & 51/0 (Prithvi Shaw 37 not out) lead Kerala 219 (Sanju Samson 54, Salman Nizar 49, Jalaj Saxena 3/46) by 71 runs.