The unbeaten ton by Sanju Samson led Kerala’s comeback on the first day of the Ranji trophy four-day match against J&K at Bengal Cricket Academy Ground, on Thursday.
The Sanju Samson ton has put Kerala in safe zone having posted 263 runs for the loss of seven wickets at the end of days play. Sanju Samson was unbeaten ton of 129 runs while as Manu Krishnan was unbeaten on 6runs.
J&K had started season on brilliantly with pacer Samiullah Beigh giving Kerala early jolts. At lunch Kerala inning was in trouble having lost four batsmen for the score of only 106.
However, J&K failed to grab on the early initiative and allowed Kerala lower order batting lineup that rallied along Samson to move on to safety.
Samiullah was pick of the bowlers from J&K side. On his comeback inning in J&K team, he took four wickets out of seven claimed by J&K on the day. Ram Dayal took two while Umer Nazir chipped in with one.
For Kerala apart from Sanju, it was Jalaj Saxena who studied the ship with his 88 ball 69 run knock early in the inning. Sanju took 251 deliveries to score 129 runs that included 19 boundaries and one six.
In the match, Parvez Rasool is stand-in skipper of J&K, in place of Mithun Manhas who couldn’t make it Kolkatta.
Brief Score:
Kerala: 263/7 (Samson 129*, Jaleja 69, Samiullah 4, Dayal 2)