By Admin 
Kerala enjoyed one of its best days in Ranji Trophy this season, and it took a firm grip of the Elite Group-B match against Saurashtra at the KCA stadium here on Saturday.
The host banked on M.D. Nidheesh’s newfound lethality (six for 20) to bundle out Saurashtra for 160 before opener Rohan Kunnummal’s unbeaten 58-ball 59 took Kerala to 82 for two at stumps on day one.
Earlier, Nidheesh found movement and bounce with the new ball and asked searching questions to the rival batters.
Harvik Desai edged a catch to Rohan at first slip off the fifth ball of the innings. Chirag Jani (five) and Arpit Vasavada were caught in the slips off successive deliveries from Nidheesh as Saurashtra slipped to seven for three in the seventh over.
However, the counterattacking Jay Gohil (84, 123b) and circumspect Prerak Mankad stitched together a 69-run stand for the fourth wicket to repair the damage.
Nidheesh returned for his second spell and nipped out Prerak with a late out-swinger. The pacer followed it up with another excellent out-swinger to dismiss Ansh Gosai (1) to complete his five-wicket haul as Saurashtra slumped to 82 for five at lunch.
Gohil and Gajjar Sammar repaired the damage partially with their 41-run association for the sixth wicket. Gohil’s impetuosity brought his downfall as he top-edged a pull off Eden Apple Tom and was caught by Akarsh at short fine-leg.
For a change, Kerala didn’t allow the Saurashtra tail to wag. Off-spinner Aparajith dismissed Sammar (23) and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja (11) quickly and Nidheesh yorked Jaydev Unadkat (16).
Rohan and debutant K.R. Akarsh gave Kerala its highest opening stand (61) of the season. Rohan flayed the medium pacers to race to his fifty off 45 balls. However, Hiten Kanbi dismissed both Akarsh (18) and Sachin Baby (1) to peg back the host.
The scores: Saurashtra — 1st innings: Harvik Desai c Rohan b Nidheesh 0, Chirag Jani c Akarsh b Nidheesh 5, Jay Gohil c Akarsh b Eden 84, Arpit Vasavada c Aparajith b Nidheesh 0, Prerak Mankad c Azharuddeen b Nidheesh 13, Ansh Gosai c Azharuddeen b Nidheesh 1, Gajjar Sammar c Azharuddeen b Aparajith 23, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja lbw b Aparajith 11, Jaydev Unadkat b Nidheesh 16, Yuvrajsinh Dodiya (not out) 4, Hiten Kanbi c Azharuddeen b Aparajith 1; Extras: (nb-1, w-1): 2; Total (in 55.2 overs): 160.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-7, 3-7, 4-76, 5-82, 6-123, 7-139, 8-140, 9-159.
Kerala bowling: Nidheesh 13-4-20-6, N.P. Basil 14-4-42-0, Eden Apple Tom 12-0-58-1, Ankit Sharma 7-0-24-0, Aparajith 9.2-1-16-3.
Kerala — 1st innings: A.K. Akarsh b Kanbi 18, Rohan S. Kunnummal (batting) 59, Sachin Baby c Gosai bt Kanbi 1, Ahammed Imran (batting) 2; Extras (lb-1, nb-1): 2; Total (for two wkts. in 22 overs): 82.
Fall of wickets: 1-61, 2-75.
Saurashtra bowling: Unadkat 6-0-19-0, Kanbi 8-2-26-2, Jani 4-0-24-0, Prerak 3-0-10-0, Jadeja 1-0-2-0.