🏏 Kerala’s Historic Ranji Trophy Final Entry!
In a nail-biting finish, Kerala clinched a two-run first-innings lead against Gujarat, securing their first-ever Ranji Trophy final after 68 years of playing the tournament. The final will see them battle Vidarbha in Nagpur from February 26.
🔥 Dramatic Morning Session
Kerala began the final day with just 28 runs to defend and needed three wickets. Aditya Sarwate rose to the occasion, taking all three wickets in a high-pressure showdown.
- Jaymeet Patel’s Dismissal: After surviving a dropped catch by captain Sachin Baby, Jaymeet misread a Sarwate delivery, resulting in a sharp stumping by Mohammed Azharuddeen. A tense three-minute DRS review confirmed he was out, sparking Kerala’s celebrations.
- Siddharth Desai’s Misfortune: He faced 163 balls before a controversial DRS decision ruled him out LBW, despite no bat edge detected. The ball tracking confirmed it would hit the stumps, favoring Kerala.
- Nagwaswalla’s Last Stand: He and No. 11 Priyajitsinh Jadeja edged closer to Gujarat’s target, but an inside edge off Sarwate’s delivery ricocheted off Salman Nizar’s helmet into Baby’s hands at slip, ending Gujarat’s innings at 455.
🏆 Final Push for Victory
With Kerala needing to play out the remaining overs, Jalaj Saxena stood firm, ensuring no collapses and sealing their path to history. He bowled 71 overs in the second innings, finishing with four wickets, alongside Sarwate’s decisive 4-for-111 spell.
💬 Can Kerala go all the way and lift their first Ranji Trophy? Stay tuned with Cricket Army for all the latest updates!
