Rajkot, First Published Dec 11, 2021, 1:01 PM IST
Rajkot: Three matches, 3 centuries … Ruturaj Gaikwad, batting in dream form, once again came out destructive as Vijay Hazare scored the best score against Kerala (Kerala vs Maharashtra) in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021-22. Batting first, Maharashtra Gaikwad (124) and Rahul Tripathi (99) put on 291 for the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs. Nidheesh MD took five wickets for 49 runs in 10 overs to stop Maharashtra from crossing the 300 mark.
Sanju’s decision was right, then what happened
Kerala captain Sanju Samson won the toss and elected to field. But then the Ruthuraj Gaikwad-Rahul Tripathi duo took over the match for the third wicket. At the start of the innings, Maharashtra lost two wickets for 22 runs. In the first ball of the third over, Thampi bowled Yash Nahar (2) to Vishnu Vinod. In the sixth over, Nidheesh MD bowled Ankit Bowne (9) to Sanju.
Gaikwad-Tripathi Show
However, the Gaikwad-Tripathi duo put on 195 for the third wicket to put Maharashtra on a winning streak. Though Tripathi surrendered to Nidheesh with 99 off 108 balls, Gaikwad once again underscored his dream form with a hat-trick century in the tournament. When Tripathi was dismissed, Maharashtra scored 217 in 39.4 overs. Noushad Sheikh (5), who reached the crease in the fifth over, also took wickets for Nidheesh.
Nidheesh MD took five wickets
But the rock-solid Gaekwad confidently led the team to a great score. In the first ball of the 46th over, Vishweshar Suresh was dismissed for 124 off 249.129 balls with nine fours and three sixes. In the last overs, Kerala managed to stop Maharashtra from batting. Nidheesh finished with five wickets for Swapnil (14) and Sop (5) before dismissing Kazi (20). Palkar (4 *) and Chaudhary (1 *) were not out.
കരതൊടുമോ കേരളം
Maharashtra, who won the first two matches, are top of the group. Kerala is second after defeating Chandigarh and losing to Madhya Pradesh. The fight between young stars Ruthuraj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson is in progress. Kerala captain Sanju has not shone much in batting. Sachin Baby and Rohan Kunnummal are leading the Kerala batsmen.
Kerala Playing XI
Sanju Samson (captain, wicket-keeper), Jalaj Saxena, Basil Thampi, Sachin Baby, Vishnu Vinod, Mohammad Azharuddin, Nidheesh MD, Rohan S Kunnummal, Sijomon Joseph, Vatsal, Vishweshar Suresh.
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Last Updated Dec 11, 2021, 1:10 PM IST
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