Maharashtra’s Jalaj Saxena is delighted after sending back a Kerala batter on the third day of the Ranji Trophy match in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday.
| Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
Salman Nizar with the Kerala lower-order triggered a sense of deja vu for Jalaj Saxena. The all-rounder was first-hand witness to epic comebacks scripted by the left-hander for the southern state last season. After an animated discussion with his captain, Jalaj, now turning out for Maharashtra, had a nine-man shield on the boundary lines.
Soon, Jalaj was celebrating as he caught Salman (49) at the backward-point fence, slashing at a delivery from Mukesh Choudhary and Kerala (219) fell short of Maharashtra’s first-innings total by 20 runs.
Maharashtra had extended that lead to 71 (51 for no loss) when bad light stopped play one hour ahead of the scheduled close. Prithvi Shaw (37 batting) and Arshin Kulkarni (14 batting) ensured that the visitors negotiated the period before play ended without any alarms.
The Kerala batters failed to convert their starts against a disciplined bowling effort from Maharashtra. Sanju Samson played a composed knock of 54 but got out at the wrong time, bottom edging left-arm spinner Vicky Ostwal to wicketkeeper Saurabh Nawale.
Sanju started positively, smacking Jalaj over the midwicket fence for a six and then square-drove Rajneesh Gurbani for a boundary. Sachin Baby, in his 100th Ranji match, played second fiddle to Sanju and they added 40 runs for the fourth wicket.
But Saurabh took a fine catch down the leg-side to end Baby’s (seven) tenure off medium-pacer Ramakrishna Ghosh. Mohammed Azharuddeen (36) played fluently in an innings punctuated with crisp drives. He added 57 runs for the fifth wicket with Sanju. But their dismissals in quick succession put Maharashtra in control.
Salman and Ankit Sharma added 49 runs for the seventh-wicket. Ankit (17) feathered a catch to Saurabh off Jalaj. Salman was left with the tail but Edhen Apple Tom (3) was bounced out by Mukesh and M.D. Nidheesh (4) was lured out of his crease by Jalaj. Salman couldn’t replicate his heroics again as Kerala conceded the lead.
The scores: Maharashtra — 1st innings: 239.
Kerala — 1st innings: Akshay Chandran lbw Gurbani 0, Rohan S. Kunnummal lbw b Jalaj 27, B. Aparajith c & b Gurbani 6, Sachin Baby c Saurabh b Ghosh 7; Sanju Samson c Saurabh b Ostwal 54, Mohammed Azharuddeen c Saurabh b Ostwal 36, Salman Nizar c Jalaj b Mukesh 49, Ankit Sharma c Saurabh b Jalaj 17, Edhen Apple Tom c Saurabh b Mukesh 3, M.D. Nidheesh st Saurabh b Jalaj 4, N.P. Basil not out 0. Extras (b-5,lb-4, w-7): 16; Total (in 63.2 overs): 219.
Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-35, 3-35, 4-75, 5-132, 6-141, 7-190, 8-203, 9-208.
Maharashtra bowling: Mukesh 15.2-2-57-2, Gurbani 12-0-49-2, Jalaj 16-2-46-3, Ramakrishna Ghosh 4-0-19-1, Arshin 3-0-14-0, Ostwal 13-4-25-2.
Maharashtra — 2nd innings: Prithvi Shaw (batting) 37, Arshin Kulkarni (batting 14), Total (for no loss in 9 overs): 51.
Kerala bowling: Nidheesh 3-0-21-0, Ankit 4-0-19-0, Akshay 1-0-6-0, Basil 1-0-5-0.
Published – October 17, 2025 07:08 pm IST
