Srinagar: After having miserable throughout the match, J&K were saved by rain as Kerala were forced to settle for three first inning lead points in its Ranji trophy match at Kalyani on Sunday.
Rain played spoilsport to Kerala’s hope of securing an outright win as they had to settle for three points by virtue of their first innings lead after having dominated most of the play.
Following on, J&K were struggling on 91 for 4 trailing by 94 runs when rain saved them from an innings defeat.
The final day’s play could not resume again and the match was called off at 4 pm with Kerala getting 3 points from the game.
This was for the third consecutive day rain had halted the proceedings and J& K had a lucky escape with a point. Wet outfield had forced a 30-minute delay this morning.
Starting on overnight score of 106 for 5 in first innings, J&K lost their remaining 5 wickets in 15 runs as Kerala enforced follow-on with a massive 205-run lead.
Kerala spinners took 8 wickets in J&K’s first innings and it was their left-arm orthodox K Monish who led the way with exceptional figures of 4/9 from his eight overs.
Parveez Rasool’s team began their second innings ominously when Basil Thampi bowled Adil Reshi for a duck to reduced them to 0/1.
Later left-arm spinner Abdulla (2/21) struck twice in two overs to reduce them to 91/4 in 31.3 overs when rain cut short a gripping finish.
Opener Shubham Khajuria remained steady at the other end with an unbeaten 39 (6×4).
Brief Scores:
1st Innings
Kerala: 306/10 (Samson 152, Beigh 6 wkts)
J&K: 12/10 (Reshi 40, Monish 4 wkts, Abdulla 3wkts)
2nd Innings
J&K: 91/4 (Khajuria 39*; Abdulla 2 wkts).
Points: Kerala 3. J&K 1.