Sarwate keeps in Kerala in the hunt after Vidarbha posts 379

There is something about Aditya Sarwate, Ranji Trophy final and the VCA Stadium.

He was the player-of-the-match for Vidarbha in the 2018-19 final here. Six years later, he is playing an innings that could go some way in deciding another final. Except that he is playing against Vidarbha now.

Sarwate, coming in at one-drop for the first time, batted with grit, as well as some flair, to lead Kerala’s reply to Vidarbha’s first innings score of 379. His new side finished the second day on Thursday at 131 for three — a considerable improvement from 14 for two.

Kerala will want Sarwate to bat for long on the third day. After Darshan Nalkande yorked the openers Akshay Chandran and Rohan Kunnummal, it was his third-wicket partnership of 93 with the young Ahammed Imran (37) that steadied the Kerala innings.

But, Imran was guilty of playing according to Vidarbha’s plan: he pulled Yash Thakur’s short ball to the fielder at mid-wicket who was placed for just that shot. The 18-year-old, however, had been batting sensibly and responsibly till then.

Sarwate continued his vigil. And his drives on the off-side were delightful.

Earlier, Vidarbha’s hopes of making a massive first-innings total were dashed by the Kerala seamers. After resuming at the overnight 254 for four, the host suffered a major setback when Danish Malewar (153, 285b, 15×4, 3×6) was bowled through the gate – a big one at that – by N.P. Basil, who got one to nip back to clip the off stump.

Basil, who may not be that quick but bowls steadily, then sent back the nightwatchman Yash Thakur with a ball that kept low and came in sharply. In the very next over, Vidarbha lost its most prized wicket of the season.

Yash Rathod, who arrived in the middle with 933 runs and five hundreds against his name, fell to a fine, low catch at slip by Rohan Kunnummal off Eden Apple Tom’s ball that moved away. Suddenly, the former champion found itself at 297 for seven.

A gritty last-wicket stand between Harsh Dubey and Nachiket Bhute, however, was worth 44. The duo even survived the half-hour that was added to the opening session.

The scores:

Vidarbha – 1st Innings: Parth Rekhade lbw b Nidheesh 0, Dhruv Shorey c Azharuddeen b Eden 16, Darshan Nalkande c Basil b Nidheesh 1, Danish Malewar b Basil 153, Karun Nair run out 86, Yash Thakur lbw b Basil 25, Yash Rathod c Rohan b Basil 3, Akshay Wadkar c Azharuddeen b Eden 23, Akshay Karnewar c Rohan b Jalaj 12, Harsh Dubey (not out) 12, Nachiket Bhute c Azharuddeen b Nidheesh 32; Extras (b-4, lb-9, w-1, nb-2): 16; Total (in 86 overs): 379.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-11, 3-24, 4-239, 5-290, 6-295, 7-297, 8-333, 9-335.

Kerala bowling: Nidheesh 28.1-7-61-3, Eden 31-6-102-3, Sarwate 13-2-49-0, Basil 24-4-60-2, Jalaj 20-1-72-1 Akshay 7-0-22-0.

Kerala – 1st Innings: Akshay Chandran b Nalkande 14, Rohan Kunnummal b Nalkande 0, Aditya Sarwate (batting) 66, Ahammed Imran c sub b Yash 37, Sachin Baby (batting) 7; Extras (lb-1, nb-6) 7; Total (for three wkts. in 39 overs): 131.

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-14, 3-107.

Vidarbha bowling: Nalkande 8-2-22-2, Yash 8-0-45-1, Bhute 4-1-16-0, Dubey 13-2-26-0, Rekhade 5-0-20-0, Karnewar 1-0-1-0.