Ranji Trophy 2023-24: Kerala fights again with late wickets in opposition to Andhra on day 1

Ricky Bhui’s run glut continued however Kerala fought again with late wickets to take the primary day’s honours within the Ranji Trophy cricket match in opposition to Andhra on the Dr. PVG Raju ACA Sports Complex stadium right here on Friday.

There was little Kerala bowlers might do to cease runs from Andhra captain Ricky Bhui, who’s unbeaten on 79 at stumps, however they managed to rein in different batters and restricted the host to 260 for seven after taking three fast wickets on the fag finish of the day.

Shoddy catching by Kerala let Andhra off the hook within the morning. Rohan Kunnummal was the offender as he dropped Ok. Maheep Kumar twice, N.P. Basil and Basil Thampi had been the unfortunate bowlers, even earlier than the opener had entered the double figures. Maheep cashed on to his reprieves to attain a dogged 81.

Maheep misplaced his associate and debutant opener Ok. Revanth Reddy (0) early as Thampi compelled an edge which was snapped up by Akshay Chandran within the first slip. The new batter Ashwin Hebber took on Kerala bowlers and creamed just a few boundaries via the off aspect. He was the dominant associate within the 51-run stand for the second wicket with Maheep. However, Ashwin grew to become debutant Akhil Scaria’s first sufferer.

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Maheep and Hanuma Vihari (24) then added 74 runs for the third wicket earlier than the latter misplaced endurance and skied a catch to N.P. Basil at mid-on off Vaisakh Chandran. The off-spinner struck once more when he had Maheep feathering a catch to Krishna Prasad at foolish level to go away Andhra at 144 for 4.

Ricky Bhui appeared in ominous contact from the beginning. He smashed Vaisakh via the covers for his first boundary and performed a sequence of rasping sq. drives and backfoot punches to place the strain on Kerala bowlers. Karan Shinde allowed his captain to do the majority of the scoring early of their dominating fifth-wicket partnership of 104. Shinde (43) began to prosper after tea however his wicket fell in opposition to the tide to Akshay. Kerala prised out two wickets cheaply – S.Ok. Raheed (0) and Shoaib Mohammed (5) – to finish the day on a excessive.