Pune: On a seaming wicket that prompted Kerala skipper Sachin Baby to pick three pacers, Jammu & Kashmir's Auqib Nabi was going to be a handful. He once again proved his mettle by taking five wickets and ending Kerala's chances to gain a first-innings lead in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal clash.

Nabi, who emerged as J&K’s bowling spearhead this season, stamped his authority by taking three early wickets before the lunch break and returning to break the promising partnership between Jalaj Saxena and Akshay Chandran. He also castled Basil NP to leave Kerala at 200 for 9, 80 runs behind on Day 2.

The 94-run partnership between Saxena and Chandran and the 54-run tie-up between Nidheesh MD and Salman Nizar were the two rays of hope. Other batters surrendered meekly as J&K bowlers put a stranglehold on them. Yudhvir Singh and Sahil Lotra took two wickets each.

Kerala, who were on top after taking eight wickets on Day 1, ceded the advantage as J&K's tail wagged. Nabi was the hero with the bat too. He, along with Yudhvir and Umar Nazir, added 70 runs for the last three wickets before he became Nidheesh's sixth victim.

Brief score:
J&K (1st innings) 280 (Kanhaiya Wadhwan 48, Sahil Lotra 35, Lone Nasir 44, Auqib Nabi 32, Nisheesh 6/75, Aditya Sarwate 2/34); Kerala (1st innings) 200/9 (Jalaj Saxena 67, Salman Nizar 49 n.o, Nidheesh 30, Nabi 5/36, Yudhvir 2/61, Lotra 2/9).

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