KERALA held out for a draw despite relentless pressure from Vidarbha bowlers on the last day of the four-day U-23 CK Nayudu Trophy match at the VCA Civil Lines Stadium on Friday. After securing a 146-run firstinnings lead on Day 3, Vidarbha scored quickly on the last day, rattling up 216-6 in 32 overs before declaring at the lunch break. Mohd Faiz made 71 off 69 balls and skipper Jagjot Sasan scored 83 off 68 deliveries, hitting five sixes and six boundaries to boost Vidarbha’s overall lead. Needing 363 runs for victory in the last two sessions, Kerala lost three wickets for 21 runs before Govind Pai and Abhijit Parveen dropped anchor and forced a draw.

 

Govind remained unbeaten on 65, while Abhijit was not out on 73. Brief scores: Vidarbha 1st Innings 411 all out in 120.5 overs (Neel Athaley 94, Shree Choudhary 93, Mohd Faiz 90, Jagjot Sasan 25, Mandar Ghodmare 33, Sanskar Chavate 23; Arjun Nair 4-125). Kerala 1st innings 265 all out in 94.5 overs (Akarsh 52, Akshay 72, Imran 40; Mandar Ghodmare 5-65, Kaustubh Salve 3-49). Vidarbha 2nd innings 216-6 decl. in 32 overs (Mohd Faiz 71, Jagjot Sasan 83). Kerala 2nd innings 171-3 in 60 overs (Govind Pai 65 not out, Abhijit Parveen 73 not out). Result: Match drawn.