Thiruvananthapuram: Experienced campaigners Rohan Prem and Jalaj Saxena combined to save Kerala on the third day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match against Goa at the St Xavier's College Ground, Thumba, on Thursday.
The two have added 44 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket to take the hosts to 172/6 in their second innings at stumps. Kerala, who conceded a first innings lead of 46, are ahead 126 by going into the final day.
Prem was batting on 68 with Saxena unbeaten on 28.
Off-spinners Mohit Redkar and Shubham Desai shared five wickets to wreck Kerala.
Opener Rohan Kunnummal made 34.
Kerala were tottering at 128/6 before Saxena joined Prem in the middle.
Earlier, Goa gained a precious 46-run lead.
Debutant opener Ishaan Gadekar scored a fine hundred. The southpaw made 105 off 200 balls with the help of seven fours and a six.
The visitors, who resumed on 200/5, lost wickets at regular intervals. However, Redkar (37) and Desai (15 not out) added 36 for the last wicket to take them past the 300-run mark and frustrate Kerala.
Goa were eventually bowled out for 311.
Off-spinner Saxena claimed another five-for, while captain Sijomon Joseph scalped three for Kerala.
Brief scores: Kerala 265 & 172/6 in 55 overs (Rohan Prem 68 batting; Mohit Redkar 3/56, Shubham Desai 2/26) vs Goa 311 in 110.2 overs (Ishaan Gadekar 105, Darshan Misal 43; Jalaj Saxena 5/103, Sijomon Joseph 3/51, Vaisakh Chandran 2/67).