Ranji Trophy Final: Danish Malewar and Karun Nair Script Turnaround for Vidarbha

Image credits: BCCI

The Ranji Trophy final between Vidarbha and Kerala got off to a thrilling start, with the hosts Vidarbha recovering from a precarious 24/3 to finish the day at 254/4, thanks to a double century partnership between Danish Malewar and Karun Nair. The duo's 215-run stand for the fourth wicket helped Vidarbha stage a strong recovery after their top order was sent packing in the first session. Kerala had opted to field first, and their decision seemed to be paying off as they picked up three wickets in quick succession, with MD Nidheesh being the pick of the bowlers.

However, Malewar and Nair had other plans, as they batted sensibly to revive the Vidarbha innings. Initially, they were watchful, but as the day wore on, they started to play more aggressively, collecting boundaries at regular intervals. Nair even hit a six off Aditya Sarwate, while Malewar cleared the ropes against the same bowler to bring up his half-century. The partnership between the two batsmen was a crucial one, as it helped Vidarbha recover from a difficult position and finish the day in a strong position.

The brief scores for the day were: Vidarbha 254/4 (Danish Malewar 138*, Karun Nair 86; MD Nidheesh 2/33) vs Kerala. The match is evenly poised at the moment, with Vidarbha looking to build on their strong start and Kerala aiming to make a comeback on the second day. The partnership between Malewar and Nair was the highlight of the day, and it will be interesting to see how the rest of the match unfolds.

Here are the match scores:

• Vidarbha: 254/4
• Kerala: Yet to bat

The match is being played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, and the pitch seems to be helping the batsmen, with Malewar and Nair taking advantage of the conditions to score big. The Kerala bowlers will need to come up with a special effort on the second day if they are to restrict Vidarbha to a manageable total.

Danish Malewar was delighted with his performance, saying that he had prepared well for the big game and was determined to score a big knock. He also praised his partner Karun Nair, saying that he was helpful and guiding throughout their partnership. The young batsman's century was a crucial one, and it will give him a lot of confidence going forward. With the match evenly poised, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the game unfolds, and whether Vidarbha can go on to win the title.

ranji vidarbha kerala trophy danish malewar karun nair vid ker