Photo via The Hindu

Ranji Trophy: Sachin, Azharuddeen rescue Kerala on opening day

Kerala staged a dramatic comeback on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy clash against Odisha, thanks to standout performances from their top order. The team collapsed to 18 for three within the first hour, with Abhishek P.

Nair and Jalaj Saxena dismissed cheaply, while Abhishek J. Nair managed just 11 runs before being caught.

However, Sachin Baby turned the game around with a masterful 112-run innings, his 16th First Class century, stabilizing the innings alongside Vishnu Vinod and Salman Nizar. Kerala’s recovery gained momentum when Mohammed Azharuddeen joined the fight, scoring 72 runs and forming a crucial 141-run partnership with Baby for the sixth wicket, lifting the team from 101 for five to 245 for six by the end of the day.

Odisha’s bowlers, including debutant Soumya Lenka and medium-pacers Rajesh Mohanty and Lalit Yadav, initially dominated with early breakthroughs, but Kerala’s resilience shifted the momentum in their favor.

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