WHEN ‘Baby’ steps were required, Kerala skipper Sachin went for a giant stride and that one big mistake cost them much as Vidarbha took an important 37-run first innings lead in their Ranji Trophy final under way at VCA’s Jamtha Stadium on Friday. Having done all the hard work for 345 minutes to reach 98, a rush of blood got the better of experience as Sachin Baby, playing his 100th First-Class match, in an attempt to score the three-figure mark with a biggie, skied left-arm spinner Parth Rekhade and Karun Nair at deep mid-wicket held on to a good catch with sun staring into his eyes. Sachin (98; 235b, 10x4) threw his wicket. It was total irresponsible and unacceptable shot from a set batsman who was going very well. Till then Kerala looked well set to take lead and at that stage were trailing by just 55 runs with three wickets in hand and veteran Jalaj Saxena (28; 76b, 3x4), playing his 150th FC game, giving him good support from the other end.

 

The fall triggered a collapse and the hosts could not recover from there on. In response to Vidarbha’s 379, Kerala were shot out for 342 conceding a 37-run lead. Before that Vidarbha’s left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey wrote his name into the Ranji record book by becoming the most successful bowler in one season of the prestigious national tournament. With three wickets in the day, Dubey took his tally to 69 this season overtaking Bihar’s Ashutosh Aman who had taken 68 wickets (in plate group) in 2018-19 season. Earlier in the day, Sachin hit first ball of the day for a carpet drive off Nachiket Bhute that raced to the extra cover fence for a four. Yash Thakur, from the far end, started off with a bouncer to Aditya Sarvate. Thakur's aggressiveness brushed off on young Bhute who hit the deck so hard in his fourth over of the day that even an over-stretched wicketkeeper Akshay Wadkar could not gather the ball resulting in four wides. Sarvate when on 75, was dropped by Danish Malewar at second slip.

 

Dubey, who switched ends after bowling two overs from the North end, induced that edge on third ball of 52nd over. Kerala were 163-3. There was a chance that came on the bowling of Thakur. Sarvate on 77 went for a pull but top edged it. Wadkar tried his best to reach for it but the ball landed safely at short square leg area. At 168-3, Sarvate survived a loud lbw appeal. But two runs later, the batter played forward defensive shot that took shoulder of the blade flew over and Malewar from gully ran a couple of steps back to pocket it ... redemption time for Malewar. The former Vidarbha player, who has two FC tons to his credit, equalled his best score in a Ranji final. He added 63 runs with Sachin and the duo played out 90th minutes. It has rarely happened at this venue that no wicket has fallen in the first hour. So, credit must be given to these two batters who played out that dangerous session.

 

The wicket brought Dubey came at par with Jaydev Unadkat with 67 scalps in a season. New man Salman Nizar played some good shots to start with Sachin hit two back to back fours off Nalkande. One was a pleasing cover drive while the next was a well-controlled pull. The second boundary brought 200 of the innings. With both left-handers playing easy seamers and the two left-arm spinners, Wadkar brought ambidextrous Karnewar in 65th over, 26th of the day, to bowl off-spin. He too failed t make any impact. Baby completed his 50 with an off drive on the bowling of Rekhade that came from 108 balls in 183 minutes with six hits to the fence. In the last over before lunch, Dubey struck. The ball hit pads in front of the wicket with Nizar shouldering arm. The umpire raised his finger and the batter reviewed it immediately but to no avail. With the wicket, Dubey equalled that national record of maximum wickets. Nizar (21; 42b, 3x4) and Sachin put on 49 runs.

 

At lunch, Kerala were 219-5 in 70.4 overs with first session yielding 88 runs in 31.4 overs at the cost of two wickets. There were reviews lost and reviews not opted for. Dubey lost a DRS against Jalaj while a Rekhade delivery which looked hitting top of stump was not reviewed. Vidarbha took new ball in 93rd over and Darshan Nalkande gave then the required break trapping Mohammed Azharuddeen (34; 59b, 3x4). At tea, the hosts were 298-6 99 overs. After Sachin was out, Saxena, going for a sweep on the ball pitched between middle and off stump, missed it to see his timber disturbed. The tail did not disturb much.

 

 

 

 

THE team in which the players keep it above self, tastes more success. Personal milestone, though important, take a back seat, as compared to the team’s cause. Vidarbha’s left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey, who entered Ranji Trophy record books by taking 69 wickets in one season, one more than anybody else in biggest domestic red-ball cricket tournament, was more concerned about the team taking first innings lead over Kerala than his record. “Honestly, I was not thinking about the record. My focus was on how to secure innings lead for the team. It is obviously a big achievement for me. It’s a proud feeling. Just met my parents, they are very happy with it,” said Dubey. “It was hot out there today. My plan was to contribute for the team as it is last game of the season and a last effort was required. I was not thinking how many overs I’m bowling but on putting maximum effort. I was focusing on putting my team in a good position,” he said when reminded that he bowled for so long in testing conditions. Though Kerala, after a sound start to Day 3, lost seven wickets to be bowled out 37 runs short of Vidarbha score, the bowler feels that the wicket is still good to bat on as Sachin Baby demonstrated.

 

“Odd balls are turning but it is not an unplayable pitch. If you bat well, like Sachin showed today, you can score on this pitch. It is not like a lot happening on the pitch. Sachin played a good knock. But a brain fade moment resulted in his wicket. That was a turning point for us as he was building a good partnership with Jalaj Saxena. Now, our plan is to bat as long as possible in the next two days,” said the all-rounder. Among the three wickets he took on Friday, Dubey picked Aditya Sarvate’s scalp. “Enjoyed the wicket of Sarvate, the ball bounced well. He was batting with positive approach. ‘Khunnas ke sath batting kiya’.” On his best game of the season, Dubey said, “Hyderabad match was a good one as I took wickets and also scored runs. I made 120-130 runs and took 7-8 wickets.”