Kerala go past 400, but at a snail's pace despite Azhar's valiant century on day two
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Mohammed Azharuddeen remained unbeaten on a brilliant 149 as Kerala slogged their way to 418/7 at stumps on the second day of the Ranji Trophy semifinals against Gujarat in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
Salman Nizar scored a patient 52 off 202 as Kerala maintained their passive approach from day one, which ended at 206/4 at a lowly strike rate of 2.31. Kerala scored 212 runs on the second day to continue their progress, but at a snail's pace.
Aditya Sarwate (10) will resume day three alongside Azhar. Arzan Nagwaswalla was the pick of the Gujarat bowlers as he ended the day at 3/64, having removed Kerala skipper Sachin Baby for 69 before dismissing debutant Ahammed Imran (24).
Aside the passive batting, the highlight of the day's play was a 149-run stand for the sixth wicket between Azhar and Salman. Azhar got to his century off 177 balls with a quick single off Siddharth Desai. The 30-year-old wicketkeeper is the only Kerala batter to have approached the game with a positive mindset, scoring at a strike rate of 50.
Azhar hit leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi for 14 in an over, including a pair of boundaries, sweetly timed through the covers and a third one deftly placed behind point. Salman Nizar, whose match-saving century in the quarterfinals against Jammu & Kashmir had helped Kerala advance, scored the slowest fifty of Kerala's current campaign.
Post-lunch, Salman remained firm, anchoring the innings like he has done on multiple occasions this season. It was ironic then to see Salman step down and hoist Vishal Jayswal for a six over long-on to get to his fifty. That six was also the first of Kerala's innings. But shortly after the break, Salman fell, as he missed a turn on Vishal Jayswal's left-arm spin.
Earlier, Kerala's waiting game on the first day of the Ranji Trophy semifinals against Gujarat was undone in the second ball on day two when skipper Sachin Baby fell. The left-hander had resumed at 69 off 193 balls but edged Nagwaswalla.
The early setback reminded Team Kerala that their passive approach on the first day, going at a sub-par run rate of 2.31, was wasteful.
Azhar, who successfully reviewed a leg before appealing on the final ball on day one, had resumed at 30 and had an early reprieve when he was dropped at the slip. Salman, too, got a lifeline when an edge fell just short of the keeper.
In contrast, the second semifinal between Vidarbha and Mumbai has been going on at a higher pace. Vidarbha resumed at their overnight score of 308/5 in 88 overs but were bundled out for 383 in 107.5 overs.
Brief scores: Kerala 418/7 in 177 overs (Mohammed Azharuddeen 149 not out, Salman Nizar 52, Sachin Baby 69, Nagwaswalla 3/64) Stumps day two