Punjab skipper Naman Dhir celebrates after dismissing Sachin Baby.
| Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR
Punjab exploited the low bounce on a deteriorating third-day pitch to dent Kerala’s aspiration of securing a first-innings lead in their Group-B Ranji Trophy match at the PCA New Cricket Stadium, Ground B, on Monday.
Vathsal Govind (18, 106b, 1×4), Ankit Sharma (62, 152b, 6×4, 1×6), and Mohammed Azharuddeen (43, 72b, 2×4, 2×6) were left to rue their luck as deliveries that zipped in low pinned them in front.
Kerala still had a glimmer of hope after B. Aparajith (39 batting, 49b, 6×4) and Ahammed Imran (19 batting, 38b, 3×4) led a fightback in the final hour. The two have added 48 runs for the seventh wicket and took Kerala to 247 for six at stumps, leaving it 189 short of parity with four wickets in hand.
Kerala’s plan was evident when Vathsal retreated into a shell and his side played out five straight maidens from the 13th to 17th over.
The instance Vathsal opted for an attacking shot, a sweep against Naman Dhir, the ball crept under his bat, making his painstaking effort in vain.
Ankit and Rohan Kunnummal learnt the lesson and were much more proactive. Rohan charged down to Naman and lofted him over long-on. Ankit used width from Mayank Markande and lashed him through covers.
But even the flourishing third-wicket partnership could not escape the untrue bounce and ended on 69 when Ramandeep Singh trapped Ankit in front.
Rohan was snaffled by ’keeper Salil Arora after his attempted late cut off Markande could only take an edge.
Azharuddeen was pushed into his crease by Ayush Goyal’s bouncers, and eventually nabbed leg-before by Krish Bhagat, whose length ball zoomed in and rapped Azharuddeen on his unmoved front foot.
With Kerala staring down the barrel, Aparajith took his chances and launched a fightback.
Off his first delivery, he drove Bhagat between mid-on and mid-off before moving towards covers and drilling Ramandeep for another boundary.
On multiple occasions, Aparajith had to crouch low to fend away deliveries with low bounce. But he survived, and with him, Kerala’s hopes of a close contest.
The scores:
Punjab — 1st innings: 436.
Kerala — 1st innings: Vathsal Govind lbw b Naman 18, Basil N.P. c Naman b Krish 4, Ankit Sharma lbw b Krish 62, Rohan Kunnummal c Salil b Mayank 43, Sachin Baby lbw b Naman 36, Mohammed Azharuddeen lbw b Krish 13, B. Aparajith (batting) 39, Ahammed Imran (batting) 19; Extras (b-1, lb-11, w-1): 13; Total (for six wkts. in 87 overs): 247.
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-58, 3-127, 4-153, 5-183, 6-199.
Punjab bowling: Ayush 20-6-58-0, Krish 16-4-37-2, Prerit 11-4-26-0, Mayank 14-4-30-1, Ramandeep 10-1-28-1, Naman 16-6-56-2.
Published – October 27, 2025 10:00 pm IST
