Nidheesh claims 6 wickets as Kerala reduce Saurashtra to 160 in Ranji Trophy

Thiruvananthapuram: M D Nidheesh became a nightmare for Saurashtra as his remarkable six-wicket haul made it incredibly difficult for the visitors to score runs during their Ranji Trophy Elite Group match against Kerala at the KCA Cricket Ground on Saturday.

Nidheesh claimed 6 wickets for just 20 runs, including four maiden overs, as Kerala reduced Saurashtra to 160 in 55.2 overs. In reply, Kerala are 82/2 in 22 overs. Rohan S Kunnummal led Kerala with the bat with an unbeaten 59 at the end of day one. 

Akarsh A K made 18 runs while Sachin Baby departed for one. Ahammed Imran is at the crease with two runs. 

Earlier, Jay Gohil was the only Saurashtra batsman who made a decent effort to lift the team’s score. He scored 83 runs, accounting for nearly half of the team’s total. He also shared a 69-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Prerak Mankad, who contributed 13 runs— a respectable effort during the first session of the match.

Kerala's bowlers struck early, sending both openers back to the dugout with just 7 runs on the board. H Desai was dismissed for a duck in the first over, while Chirag Jani could manage only five runs before he was also sent packing. A V Vasavada, coming in at number four, fell for a golden duck to Nidheesh, who was on a roll. Ansh Gosai also returned with just one run, after which Gajjar Sammar joined Gohil in the middle.

After lunch, Gohil was dismissed by Edhen Apple Tom. Sammar then tried to steady the innings with support from D A Jadeja (11) and skipper J Unadkat (16). However, Sammar was eventually dismissed for 23, and Kerala soon wrapped up Saurashtra’s innings.

Kerala have managed just two points from the first three matches in the Ranji Trophy this season. Kerala conceded first innings leads in their drawn matches against Maharashtra and Punjab before losing by an innings and 164 runs against Karnataka.