Rajkot: Kerala were eyeing an outright win after reducing Gujarat to 128/5 at stumps on the third and penultimate day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match here on Saturday. The hosts, who conceded a first innings lead of 51, are 77 ahead.
Karan Patel (28 batting) and Umang Kumar (25 batting) took the home side to stumps without further loss after they were struggling at 84/5. Basil Thampi picked up a couple of wickets, while M D Nidheesh, Simonon Joseph and Jalaj Saxena scalped one each.
Vishnu Vinod's second first-class hundred helped Kerala gain a handy first innings lead.
Vishnu (113) made sure Kerala surpassed Gujarat 's total of 388 in their first innings. Kerala were bowled out for 439 in the second session.
Resuming on 277/4, the overnight pair of Vishnu and Vathsal Govind (25) took Kerala to 349 before the latter was sent back by Roosh Kalaria. The two added 98 for the fifth wicket.
Salman Nizar (6) and Sijomon Joseph (4) were dismissed cheaply by left-arm spinner Siddharth Desai. Basil Thampi made 15.
Vishnu brought up his hundred off 117 balls with the help of 13 fours and a six. He was eventually trapped in front of the wicket by Desai who ended up with figures of 5/132. Vishnu's 143-ball knock contained 15 fours and a six.
Brief scores: Gujarat 388 and 128/5 in 39 overs (Basil Thampi 2/29) vs Kerala 439 in 107.3 overs (Rohan S Kunnummall 129, Vishnu Vinod 113; Siddharth Desai 5/132)
