Ranji Trophy 2024-25 Final, Day 2 Review: Sarwate fifty leads Kerala fightback

It was a fine day at the office for Kerala, who finished the second day of the finale of Ranji Trophy 2024-25 at 131/3 after Aditya Sarwate's unbeaten half-century at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.

The day commenced with Vidarbha's innings, as they resumed at 254/4. Danish Malewar carried on from where he left, as he brought up his 150 off the final delivery of the 90th over of the innings via a swing across the line to dispatch the ball over the deep square leg fence for a maximum. However, the budding talent did not last long as a nip-backer resulted in his dismissal for 153, his career-best First-Class score.

Vidarbha's tail did its best to accumulate runs and tick the score along as through a combination of an occasional boundaries and some smart strike rotation to hold their ground until Lunch. Nachiket Bhute was dismissed 13 deliveries into the second session, with Vidarbha reaching 379. MD Nidheesh and Eden Apple Tom ended up with respective three-wicket hauls. 

Kerala's innings started off in the most inauspicious manner, with Rohan Kunnummal getting dismissed on the fifth delivery of the innings. Trying to adjust to the late inswing, Kunnummal saw the bails of the stumps getting dislodged as Darshan Nalkande caught him off guard. Akshay Chandran creamed Yash Thakur for three boundaries, but another delivery angling in in the subsequent over saw the former getting castled.

Thakur miscalibrated his length one time too many as he was taken out of the attack soon. Sarwate and Ahammed Imran combined to take their side to Tea without further dents. The pair settled quite well in the third session, stroking the ball through gaps to maintain a steady flow of runs. Sarwate got to his 13th First Class half-century in the same over in which Kerala brought up their team hundred. Aman Mokhade, the substitute fielder, hung on to Imran's miscued pull at midwicket. 

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It was a tricky period for skipper, Sachin Baby, as he had to negate the remainder of the overs of the day's place to ensure his side was still in the game going into Day 3. He was able to successfully fend his way through.

Kerala, playing their first Ranji Trophy final, ended the day's play sitting on 131/3 in 39 overs. Sarwate, who till last year represented Vidarbha, remained unbeaten on 66 off 120 deliveries. Alongside the skipper, he would be expected to carry on the good work.