KOZHIKODE: Vinoop Manoharan (87) and Sachin Baby (54) prevented a batting collapse and helped Kerala to take 273 against Goa on Day One of the Ranji Trophy Group ‘C’ match in Goa on Sunday.
After electing to bat, Kerala lost two quick wickets as V.A. Jagadeesh and Robert Fernandez were sent back early and the visitor’s hopes of a good start was hampered. But in-form Nikhilesh Surendran was at his best with a firm knock of 84 runs while his colleagues departed without any useful contributions.
Nikhilesh’s departure put Kerala at a score of 129 for four and the batting side was at the verge of collapse after P.U. Anthaf got out in a stumping by wicket-keeper Keenan Vaz off Shadab Jakati’s bowling.
Kerala now at 134 for five looked for saviours and they found it in Vinoop Manoharan and captain Sachin Baby. They both crafted a 94-run stand in the sixth wicket partnership to put Kerala past 200 mark and give a competitive score. Vinoop gathered most of his runs from boundaries as he hit 14 fours to build his 87 runs off 157 balls. Sachin, at the other end, was more careful as he scored his half century in 110 balls.
After Sachin was sent back, 228/7, Vinoop took the charge of the scoring and led his team to a respectable score along with the support of the tail-enders. Goa batted for five overs have scored 11 runs with no loss.
Brief scores: Kerala 273 in 83 overs (Vinoop Manoharan 87, Nikhilesh Surendran 84, Sachin Babu 54, Mangal Das 3/66, SB Jakati 3/72) vs Goa 11 for no loss in five overs.
