Kerala secures a commanding 8-wicket victory over Punjab in a thrilling contest at St Xavier's College Ground, Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram. The match witnessed dramatic twists across all four days, with Kerala emerging as the dominant side on Day 4 to clinch the win.
Day 1: Slow Start Amidst Interruptions
- Punjab struggled to build momentum, closing the first day at 95/5 after 39 overs. Rain interruptions limited their progress, with Ramandeep Singh (28) and Krish Bhagat (6) steadying the innings after a shaky start.
- Kerala's bowlers, led by Jalaj Saxena and Aditya Sarwate, kept Punjab's scoring under control by consistently taking wickets in the morning session.
Day 2: Punjab's Lower Order Resilience
- The second day started late due to a wet outfield. Punjab's lower-order fightback, spearheaded by Mayank Markande's 27 and support from Siddarth Kaul, helped them reach 180/9 at the end of the day.
- Despite Kerala’s bowling attack maintaining pressure, Punjab's resistance ensured they added crucial runs, making the total more challenging.
Day 3: Kerala's Response and Punjab's Collapse
- Kerala's first innings ended at 179 all out, trailing Punjab by just 15 runs. Key contributions came from Azharuddeen (38) and Vathsal Govind (28). Mayank Markande was instrumental in restricting Kerala with his six-wicket haul.
- Punjab’s second innings started disastrously as they finished Day 3 at 23/3, with a lead of just 38. Kerala bowlers, particularly Aparajith and Jalaj Saxena, were exceptional in tightening the grip on Punjab.
Day 4: Kerala Seals the Victory
- Punjab's batting line-up crumbled on the fourth day, getting bowled out for 142 runs. Prabhsimran Singh’s quick-fire 51 was the only notable performance. Sarwate (4 wickets) and Aparajith (4 wickets) led the charge for Kerala, setting a modest target of 158 runs for the win.
- Kerala’s chase was steady, led by captain Sachin Baby (56) and Rohan Kunnummal (48). They reached the target comfortably at 158/2, sealing the match with an 8-wicket margin before the Tea Break.
Scorecard
Punjab 1st Innings: 194 all out (82.5 Overs)
- Top Scorers: Ramandeep Singh 43, Anmolpreet Singh 28, Mayank Markande 37*.
- Top Bowlers: Jalaj Saxena 5/81, Aditya Sarwate 5/62.
Kerala 1st Innings: 179 all out (70.4 Overs)
- Top Scorers: Azharuddeen 38, Vathsal Govind 28.
- Top Bowlers: Mayank Markande 6/59, Gurnoor Brar 3/18.
Punjab 2nd Innings: 142 all out (55.1 Overs)
- Top Scorers: Prabhsimran Singh 51, Anmolpreet Singh 37.
- Top Bowlers: Aditya Sarwate 4/43, Aparajith 4/35.
Kerala 2nd Innings: 158/2 (36 Overs)
- Top Scorers: Sachin Baby 56, Rohan Kunnummal 48, Baba Aparajith 39*.
- Top Bowlers: Mayank Markande 1/29, Emanjot Singh Chahal 1/53.
Match Summary
- Result: Kerala won by 8 wickets.
- Punjab: 194 & 142
- Kerala: 179 & 158/2
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