A costly mix-up denied Karun Nair a well-earned century, but his partnership with Danish Malewar ensured Vidarbha reached a strong 254/4 at stumps on Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy final against Kerala on Wednesday.
At the VCA Stadium, Vidarbha found themselves in deep trouble at 24/3 after Kerala’s pacers struck early. However, Nair (86) and Malewar (138 not out) steadied the innings with a determined 215-run stand for the fourth wicket. Their partnership, spanning 414 deliveries, blended caution with aggression to rebuild Vidarbha’s innings.
Unfortunately, their resistance ended in an unnecessary run-out, as a miscommunication led to Nair falling short of a century. The breakthrough came late for Kerala, who had to wait nearly 68 overs before opting for a second new ball in the 82nd over. Eden Apple Tom’s delivery swung unexpectedly, leading to a fumble by the wicketkeeper and first slip. Sensing an opportunity, both batters set off for a run, but Rohan Kunnummal at second slip reacted swiftly, running out Nair before he could return to his crease.
Despite the setback, Nair’s knock played a key role in stabilizing the innings, guiding Malewar, who reached his second First-Class century. Malewar, in fine form, capitalized on his confidence, scoring 138* off 259 balls, including 14 fours and two sixes.
Earlier, Kerala’s bowlers dominated the opening session on a green-top wicket. MD Nidheesh (2/33) struck early, trapping Parth Rekhade lbw on the second ball. Darshan Nalkande struggled before falling for 1, and Dhruv Shorey (16) edged one behind off Eden’s bowling, leaving Vidarbha reeling.
BOX
Brief scores: Vidarbha 254/4 in 86 overs (Danish Malewar 138*, Karun Nair 86; MD Nidheesh 2/33) vs Kerala.
