Captain Sachin Baby patiently crafted a fifty, but Kerala failed to construct big partnerships and ended day one of their Ranji Trophy semifinals against Gujarat with a below-par score of 206/4.

Mohammed Azharuddeen was given out leg before appeal on the last ball of the day. But he successfully reviewed and found that the ball was missing the leg stump. Azhar strolled back, relieved, on 30 off 66, joined by Sachin on 69 off 193.

The duo had raised a 49-run stand for the fifth wicket. Azhar, who played a brilliant match-saving second innings alongside Salman Nizar to secure a decisive draw in the quarterfinals against Jammu and Kashmir in Pune, will have to do something similar when Kerala resume on Tuesday.

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Earlier, Sachin and Jalaj Saxena had forged a 71-run stand for the fourth wicket before the veteran guest player (30 off 83) dragged an Arzan Nagwaswalla delivery onto his stumps. Soon after, Sachin completed his fourth fifty of the season.

Kerala had held a 60-run partnership for the first wicket between Akshay Chandran and Rohan Kunnummal. But the openers fell in quick succession, with Akshay run out for 30 and Kunnummal (30) trapped leg before by Ravi Bishnoi. Kerala lost a review while trying to change the umpire's decision.

Debutant Varun Nayanar and Sachin took Kerala into lunch at 70/2 after 33 overs. But post-lunch, Varun (10) edged a harmless wide delivery from Priyajitsing Jadeja.

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Kerala are playing the Ranji Trophy semifinals only for the second time, since making history in the 2018-19 season. Gujarat had drubbed Saurashtra by an innings and 98 runs in their quarterfinals. Mumbai and Vidarbha are playing the second semifinals in Nagpur.

Sanju Samson is not part of the Kerala squad as he is recovering from a fracture on his index finger sustained during India's T20 home series against England. There are no other India cricketers on the Kerala side, while Gujarat has an international leg-spinner, Bishnoi, in their ranks.

Brief scores: Kerala 206/4 in 89 overs (Sachin Baby 69 not out, Mohammed Azharuddeen 30 not out, Jalaj Saxena 30, Rohan Kunnummal 30, Akshay Chandran 30) vs Gujarat. Stumps on day one

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