Saxena comes to haunt Kerala after Sanju's fifty as Maharashtra steal lead on Day 3

Jalaj Saxena came to haunt his former employers Kerala by giving Maharashtra a handy 20-run lead in the Ranji Trophy opener at the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday.

The 38-year-old, who left Kerala after nine successful years, the last of which ended in a historic first final, claimed three wickets to bundle out the hosts for 219 in response to Maharashtra's fighting total of 239 on the third day.

Off-spinner Saxena removed Kerala's last recognised pair by dismissing Ankit Sharma (17), who forged a 49-run stand with Salman Nizar for the seventh wicket.

Kerala had looked brilliant in the first session when Sanju Samson and skipper Mohammed Azharuddeen stitched up a 57-run stand for the fifth wicket. Young left-arm spinner Vicky Ostwal pierced the Kerala armour before Saxena smashed it open.

Sanju had looked in fine form with neat drives on the front foot and the odd six over midwicket, but he made a half-hearted attempt to cut Ostwal and gave a thick edge that Saurabh Nawale gobbled up behind the stumps. Sanju made 54 off 63.

Ostwal turned the game in the visitors' favour shortly afterwards by removing Azharuddeen. Like Sanju, Azhar too was guilty of playing on the back foot and misjudging the turn Ostwal was getting off the surface, as he edged behind.

Nawale had a busy outing, playing his part in six dismissals, including a smart stumping to dismiss M D Nidheesh. His confident appeals forced the umpire to lift his finger for a caught behind against Eden Apple Tom, though it seemed like the ball had clipped the batter's shoulder.

Kerala had been in a precarious position when play resumed. Sachin Baby and Sanju walked in fresh with the score 35/3. Sachin, playing his 100th Ranji match, helped the total to 75 with Sanju taking charge at the other end, but fell for 7 off a patient 35.

Azharudeen was brave, driving Rajneesh Gurbani through the cover shortly after almost edging one behind to a short-pitched delivery. He made 36 off 52.

Nizar, who had the responsibility to get Kerala closer to 239, crossing which would have guaranteed the hosts three points as opposed to one in a match that seems destined to end in a draw. But the left-hander ran out of partners and eventually threw his wicket away with a poor-timed square cut that Saxena caught.

Maharashtra started their second innings in style, making 51 off 9 overs, with star opener Prithvi Shaw scoring an unbeaten 37 off 34. The visitors led by 71 runs as the penultimate day ended early due to bad light. 

Ruturaj Gaikwad's 91 was the highlight of Maharashtra's first innings, in which Kerala pacer Nidheesh bagged a fifer.

Brief scores: Maharashtra 239 & 51/0 in 9 overs (Prithvi Shaw 37 not out, Arshin Kulkarni 17 not out) vs Kerala 219 in 63.2 overs (Sanju Samson 54, Salman Nizar 49, Azharuddeen 36, Jalaj Saxena 3/46, Gurbani 2/49, Choudhary 2/57, Ostwal 2/25). Stumps on Day 3