Vizianagaram: Sachin Baby and Akshay Chandran smashed hundreds for the second successive game as Kerala gained a huge first innings lead of 242 over Andhra on the third day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match here on Sunday.
Kerala declared on 514/7 in the final session in reply to Andhra's 272. The hosts were struggling at 19/1 in their second innings at stumps on the penultimate day of the contest.
Acting-captain Sachin made a fine 113 off 219 balls. The left-hander hit 15 fours. Sachin and Akshay added 181 runs for the fourth wicket. It was Sachin's 14th first-class ton and fourth this season.
Akshay notched up his fourth century at the first-class level. He put on 126 in the company of Salman Nizar (58) for the fifth wicket.
Akshay and Mohammed Azharuddeen (40) were involved in a 75-run stand for the sixth wicket.
Akshay made his highest first-class score before falling for 184. The southpaw hit 20 fours in his 386-ball stint. Manish Golamaru claimed four wickets for the home side.
Brief scores: Andhra 272 & 19/1 in seven overs vs Kerala 514/6 declared in 161.4 overs (Akshay Chandran 184, Sachin Baby 113, Rohan Kunnummal 61, Salman Nizar 58; Manish Golamaru 4/161).
