Sachin Baby hits ton as Kerala battle back to 245/6 against Odisha

Thiruvananthapuram: Rescued from the brink by a classy century from Sachin Baby and a gritty half-century from Mohammed Azharuddeen, Kerala reached 245 for six at stumps on Day 1 of their Ranji Trophy clash against Odisha. While Baby fell late in the day after crafting a fine hundred, Azharuddeen held firm, remaining unbeaten on 72.

Sent in to bat after losing the toss, Kerala suffered an early top-order collapse and were left reeling at 18 for three. Abhishek P. Nair was the first to fall without troubling the scorers, and Jalaj Saxena soon followed him back for a duck. When Abhishek J. Nair was dismissed for 11, Kerala were in dire straits.

Sachin Baby and captain Vishnu Vinod began the rebuilding job, putting together a 40-run stand to steady the ship. However, Vinod fell for 21 to Soumya Ranjan, and Salman Nizar (21) was caught off Badal Biswal, leaving Kerala in deep trouble at 101 for five.

From there, Baby and Azharuddeen turned the tide with a resolute 141-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Batting with caution and composure, the pair frustrated the Odisha attack. Shortly after tea, Baby brought up his 16th first-class century by nudging a single off Lalit Yadav, with Azharuddeen raising his fifty in the very next over.

Baby’s determined vigil finally ended in the penultimate over of the day when he was dismissed for 112, an innings laced with 11 boundaries and a six. At close of play, Azharuddeen was unbeaten on 72, with Aditya Sarwate on three at the other end.