Despite the efforts of the baby, Vidarbha secures crucial lead

In Nagpur, Sachin Baby showcased his impressive first-class record by scoring his 28th fifty on Friday. However, he fell just two runs short of what could have been his 15th hundred, which could have been Kerala's standout moment in their first-ever Ranji Trophy final. Unfortunately, Vidarbha managed to break his 234-ball innings, leading to Kerala losing the three remaining wickets quickly and conceding a 37-run lead at the end of Day 3.

For Vidarbha, slow left-arm bowler Harsh Dubey took 3/88, breaking the record for most wickets by any bowler in the tournament’s history. With 69 wickets so far this season, he has surpassed the record of 68 wickets by Bihar’s Ashutosh Aman in 2018-19. Apart from Baby’s 98, Aditya Sarwate fought hard for his 185-ball 79 but Vidarbha held their nerve to gain a vital lead after dismissing the visitors for 342. Vidarbha had made 379 batting first.

Sarwate fell in the first session while batting mainstays, Salman Nizar (21) and Mohammed Azharuddeen (34), could not convert their good starts into big scores as Dubey, Darshan Nalkande (3/52) and Parth Rekhade (3/65) returned three-wicket hauls each.

Sarwate was the first to depart, becoming Dubey’s 67th victim. The 22-year-old then dismissed Nizar to get to a record-equalling 68th dismissal. The spinner, however, had to toil all day for his third victim, which finally came when he trapped MD Nidheesh (1) leg-before to set the record for most wickets in a Ranji season.

Sarwate jammed his bat to the ground in a front-foot prod but Dubey’s delivery jumped off a rough patch and substitute fielder Aman Mokhade took an easy catch. Sarwate’s resistance lasted 185 balls as he put on 63 runs for the fourth wicket with his skipper.

Baby also forged vital partnerships of 49 runs (fifth wicket) with Salman Nizar (21) and 59 runs (sixth wicket) with Azharuddeen (34), but the efforts were not enough. Nizar struck three boundaries in his 42-ball stay before he was adjudged leg-before to Dubey, a decision Kerala might have felt was a bit harsh.

Nizar shouldered his arms to a delivery which Dubey pitched outside off, but the ball spun in sharply to hit the batter outside the off-stump. The on-field umpire Anil Chaudhary declared the batter leg-before for not offering a shot, and despite DRS intervention, Nizar had to walk back as replays showed the ball would’ve hit the stumps.

Azharuddeen was also adjudged leg-before off Nalkande when he attempted to flick a fuller ball but was hit on the front pad. The batter immediately asked for a review but replays showed the ball would’ve clipped leg stump. Kerala captain Baby continued to fight on but had only himself to blame for missing out on a century.

Having batted patiently throughout the day, he charged against Rekhade, only to hit the ball high up in the air with Karun Nair taking the offering at deep midwicket. Still 50 runs adrift of Vidarbha’s first-innings total, stalwart Jalaj Saxena (28) and Eden Apple Tom (10) tried to forge a partnership but they could manage only 13 runs off 70 balls for the eighth wicket. Kerala were also guilty of not pushing hard for runs as they added just 211 to their overnight total of 131/3 before their innings ended.

Brief scores: Vidarbha 379 in 123.1 overs (Danish Malewar 153, Karun Nair 86; MD Nidheesh 3/61, Eden Apple Tom 3/101) lead Kerala 342 in 125 overs (Aditya Sarwate 79, Sachin Baby 98; Darshan Nalkande 3/52, Harsh Dubey 3/88, Parth Rekhade 3/65) by 37 runs. (With agency inputs)

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