Malayali Karun's ton takes Ranji Trophy title out of Kerala's reach, Vidarbha stretch lead to 286

Bengaluru-Malayali Karun Nair scored a brilliant century on Day 4 of the Ranji Trophy final to take Vidarbha closer to their third title. Kerala, playing their maiden final, trail by 286 runs and would need to pull off something extraordinary on Sunday, their final day in Nagpur.

Karun was unbeaten on 132 off 280, with captain Akshay Wadkar on four as Vidarbha closed the penultimate day at 249/4. Having conceded a 37-run lead in the first innings, Kerala must somehow dismiss Vidarbha as early as possible on Day 5, and chase down whatever total they amass. If the match ends in a draw, Vidarbha will win the title by virtue of their first-innings lead.

Kerala showed every bit of inexperience expected of a team playing their maiden final. After spectacularly beginning the day with 7/2 in just 2.2 overs, Sachin Baby & Co. let Vidarbha take control. The man in the driving seat was 33-year-old Karun, a player who could have joined Kerala two seasons ago after being dropped by his home state of Karnataka. 

Karun, who was run out for 86 in the first innings, hit his 9th century of the season and 23rd overall in first-class cricket to rescue Vidarbha from the shaky start. The pair of Karun and Danish Malewar (73) that stitched a 215-run partnership in the first innings, added 182 today before Akshay Chandran removed the latter. Chandran dropped Karun on 31 when he edged a peach of a delivery from 19-year-old pacer Eden Apple Tom. Malewar, centurion from Vidarbha's first innings, survived an early leg before off M D Nidheesh with a successful review.

The Kerala camp might not have expected Vidarbha to recover from what transpired in the first 10-15 minutes. Sachin Baby brought in his trusted off-spinner Jalaj Saxena to open the bowling with Nidheesh, and he struck in the first ball. The Kerala skipper had delayed spin until the 23rd over in the first innings, but it made perfect sense to operate a slow bowler from one end, considering the turn Vidarbha left-arm spinners generated in the previous session.

Parth Rekhade might have expected a similar turn from Saxena, bowling around the wicket. But that one, pitched at length, went straight through the left-hander's bat and pad, crashing onto the stumps. The next over, Dhruv Shorey was guilty of driving at a full delivery from Nidheesh that swung away, taking a sharp edge to wicketkeeper Mohammed Azharuddeen, who dived at full stretch to take the catch.

Kerala's first innings had folded for 342 in response to Vidarbha's 379. Kerala's inexperience at the level, having never played a Ranji final before, was evident in how they slumped from 324/7 to being dismissed 18 runs later. Captain Sachin Baby had thrown away his wicket on 98, playing an uncharacteristic slog.

Brief scores: Vidarbha 379 & 249/4 in 90 overs (Karun Nair 132 not out, Danish Malewar 73) vs Kerala 342. Stumps on Day 4