Thiruvananthapuram : In a stunning twist on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy encounter at the KCA Cricket Ground, Kerala were bundled out for just 139 against Chandigarh, batting first after winning the toss — a collapse that will leave fans and pundits scratching their heads.
After a solid start at 95/2, the Kerala innings crumbled rapidly, losing eight wickets for only 44 runs in a dramatic batting collapse that overshadowed the early promise.
Veteran campaigners Baba Aparajith (49) and Sachin Baby (41) offered resistance with a gritty 58-run third-wicket stand, but couldn’t take the side past a competitive total. Apart from them, only openers Akarsh A K (14) and Salman Nizar (13 not out) managed double-digit scores.
Chandigarh’s bowling attack wreaked havoc:
Nishunk Birla spun webs with 4/40, turning the game with guile.
Rohit Dhanda complemented him with 3/27, keeping the pressure high.
Jagjit Singh Sandhu chipped in with crucial support.
At stumps, Chandigarh had already started their reply strongly, reaching 142/1 and securing a 3-run lead courtesy of a steady start from Arjun Azad (78)* and Manan Vohra (51)*.
Kerala’s slump this match continues a tough season for the side, which has struggled for consistency and still looks for that elusive first victory this Ranji campaign.
Reflecting on the day, team observers pointed out that Kerala’s middle and lower order “just couldn’t counter the disciplined Chandigarh attack,” with one local pundit telling reporters, “What started steadily turned into a disaster before our eyes.” (Credit: Onmanorama Staff)
Brief Score — Day 1:
Kerala 139 all out (Aparajith 49, Baby 41; Birla 4/40, Dhanda 3/27)
Chandigarh 142/1 (Azad 78*, Vohra 51*) — lead by 3 at close.
With three more days to play, Kerala will need a spirited response to stay alive in this contest. Can they bounce back, or will this be remembered as Kerala’s day of batting infamy? Only time will tell.
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