Ranji Trophy: Kerala set up semi-final clash with Gujarat after 1-run lead vs J&K-OxBig News Network

Kerala went through to the semi-final of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 after their quarterfinal against Jammu & Kashmir at the MCA Stadium in Pune ended in a draw. Kerala went through to the semis after taking a slender lead of one run in their first innings. After bowling J&K out for 280 in the first innings, J&K found themselves in all sorts of trouble, getting reduced to 11/3 in 8.2 overs.

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But Jalaj Saxena and Salman Nizar put their heads down to help Kerala make a comeback. Saxena scored 67 runs off 78 before Auqib Nabi accounted for his wicket. But trailing by 80 runs with one wicket in hand, Kerala was in danger of conceding a massive lead in their first innings. Nizar, in the meantime, had other ideas as he made the bowlers toil hard for the last wicket.

Nizar stayed not out on 112 off 172 balls, laced with 12 fours and four sixes. He got support from No.11 Basil Thampi, who chipped in with a priceless 15-run knock off 35 balls. It was on the back of their 81-run partnership for the last wicket that J&K managed to take the lead in the first innings.

Nabi finished with figures of 27-8-53-6, but his brilliant spell of bowler couldn’t help J&K take a first innings lead. Skipper Paras Dogra of J&K scored 132 runs in the second innings, helping his team set Kerala a target of 399 runs to chase down. Kanhaiya Wadhawan and Sahil Lotra made 64 and 59 respectively.

Salman Nizar steps up for Kerala

Kerala played out 126 overs in their second innings to make sure that J&K couldn’t get the outright win. After his heroics in the first innings, Nizar stepped up in the second as well, staying unbeaten on 44 off 162 balls. After Kerala lost six wickets for 180, Nizar and Mohammed Azharuddeen put on 115 runs for the seventh wicket off 42.4 overs, saving the day for their team.

In the first innings, fast bowler MD Nidheesh also made an impact with figures of 27-6-75-6. Kerala’s semi-final against Gujarat starts on Monday, February 17. Vidarbha and Mumbai will be up against each other in the other semi-final.

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