Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 12: Kerala sealed their spot in the Ranji Trophy semifinals after a gritty draw against Jammu and Kashmir, progressing on the back of a slender 1-run first innings lead. The match, which was in the balance on the final day, saw a resolute batting effort from Kerala’s middle-order, with Salman Nizar (44* off 162 balls) and Mohammed Azharuddeen (67* off 118 balls) putting on a 115-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Their unbroken stand saw Kerala finish at 295/6 in their second innings, successfully seeing off the final day’s play.
Nizar, who was named player of the Match, had earlier contributed a vital unbeaten 112 in Kerala’s first innings, guiding the team to the crucial 1-run lead. He reflected on the partnership, saying, “We believed in ourselves and took it through the blocks of 10 runs each. The J&K bowlers made it tough, but we stayed focused.”
Kerala’s progress to the semifinals is a historic moment, marking their second-ever appearance in the last four after the 2018-19 season. That year, they had lost to eventual champions Vidarbha by an innings.
Jammu and Kashmir’s skipper, Paras Dogra, acknowledged Kerala’s resilience, stating, “We tried our best, but Kerala batters deserve credit. We’re proud of how far we’ve come.” Kerala now prepares to face former champions Gujarat in the semifinals, starting February 17.
BRIEF SCORES:
J&K: 280 and 399/9 declared.
Kerala: 281 and 295/6 in 126 overs (Salman Nizar 44 not out, Mohammed Azharuddeen 67 not out, Sachin Baby 48, Akshay Chandran 48; Sahil Lotra 2/50).
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