Ranji Trophy Final: Vidarbha Takes Control Against Kerala with Karun Nair's Milestone

Image credits: IANS

The Ranji Trophy final between Vidarbha and Kerala got off to an exciting start, with Vidarbha taking control of the game on Day 1. Kerala, who won the toss and chose to field, struck early with the ball, dismissing Parth Rekhade on the second ball of the day. However, Vidarbha's batters Danish Malewar and Karun Nair took the game into their own hands, putting on a 205-run stand for the fourth wicket. Malewar ended the day on an unbeaten 138, while Nair scored 86 runs, achieving a massive milestone of 8,000 runs in First-Class cricket.

Nair's innings was a testament to his experience and skill, as he navigated the Kerala bowling attack with ease. He reached the milestone of 8,000 runs in his 114th First-Class match, becoming one of the few players to achieve this feat. Nair's partnership with Malewar was the highlight of the day, as they batted for a majority of the day, taking Vidarbha to 254/4 at stumps. The duo's stand was built on a solid foundation, with both players playing cautiously and selectively, choosing the right balls to score off.

The Kerala bowling attack, led by MD Nidheesh and Eden Apple Tom, tried to make inroads into the Vidarbha batting line-up, but Nair and Malewar were unstoppable. Nidheesh took two wickets, including that of Nalkande, who was dismissed for 1 run in 21 deliveries. Tom took one wicket, dismissing Dhruv Shorey, who was caught behind by the wicket-keeper. However, the Kerala bowlers were unable to make a breakthrough, as Nair and Malewar continued to dominate the proceedings.

Here are the match scores:

• Vidarbha: 254/4 in 86 overs
• Danish Malewar: 138 not out
• Karun Nair: 86 runs
• MD Nidheesh: 2-33
• Eden Apple Tom: 1-66

The match is evenly poised, with Vidarbha looking to extend their lead on Day 2. The Kerala bowlers will need to come up with a plan to dismiss Malewar and the other Vidarbha batsmen if they want to get back into the game.

The Ranji Trophy final is one of the most prestigious tournaments in Indian domestic cricket, and this match is turning out to be a thrilling contest. With Nair's milestone and Malewar's century, Vidarbha has taken control of the game, but Kerala will look to fight back on Day 2. The match is being played at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur, and the crowd is eagerly waiting to see what Day 2 has in store.

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