Kerala make history, enter Ranji semifinals first time

Wayanad, January 17 

Kerala stormed into the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy for the first time with a 113-run win over Gujarat on the third day of their quarterfinal match. This is the first time Kerala have entered the last-4 stage of the prestigious tournament in over five decades. Last year, the state made its maiden entry into the quarterfinal but lost to Vidharbha.

Needing 195 to win, Gujarat were shot out for 81 in 31.3 overs as Basil Thampi (5/27) and Sandeep Warrier (4/30) wrecked the strong batting line-up. Gujarat did not have the best start, losing opener Kathan D Patel in the sixth over. In the last ball of the same over, Thampi trapped Priyank Panchal (3) to leave the visitors at 10/2. Left-hander Rahul Shah was the only batsman to offer some resistance with an unbeaten knock of 33 runs. Gujarat skipper Parthiv Patel was run out for a duck by his counterpart Sachin Baby. Thampi, who was named Man of the Match, and Warrier finished with eight wickets each.

Jaffer hits double 

Wasim Jaffer slammed a double hundred as holders Vidarbha grabbed a massive 204-run first innings lead against Uttarakhand on the third day of their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal. With Vidarbha’s first innings yet to be completed and only two days left in the match, the hosts are set to enter the semifinals after ending the Day 3 at an imposing 559/6.

At 260/1, opener Sanjay Ramaswamy (141) and Wasim Jaffer (206) resumed the innings and stitched a massive 304-run second-wicket stand to demoralise the visiting team. — PTI

Ranji quarters: brief scores

• Uttarakhand: 355 (Saurabh Rawat 108, Avneesh Sudha 91; Umesh Yadav 4/90, Akshay Wakhare 2/46); Vidarbha: 559/6 (Wasim Jaffer 206, Sanjay Ramaswamy 141, A Wadkar 98; DK Sharma 2/87) 
• UP: 385 and 172/8 (Mohammad Saif 48, RS Rawat 37; D Jadeja 4/53, C Sakariya 3/29; Saurashtra: 208
• Rajasthan: 224 & 222 (Robin Bist 44, Mahipal Lomror 42; Krishnappa Gowtham 4/54) ; Karnataka: 263 & 45/3 
• Kerala: 185 and 171; Gujarat: 162 and 81 all out in 31.3 overs (Rahul Shah 33*; Basil Thampi 5/27, Sandeep Warrier 4/30).