Ranji Trophy 2025-26: Dropped catches and rain aid Kerala in salvaging draw against Saurashtra on final day
Rain, dropped catches and resolute batting helped Kerala salvage a draw against Saurashtra in the Elite Group B match at the KCA Stadium here on Tuesday.
Varun Nayanar (66 not out, 160b, 7×4) and Concussion Substitute Abhishek P. Nair (19, 87b 3×4) rode their luck to thwart Saurashtra on the final day. Earlier, Saurashtra added 52 runs to its overnight total of 350 for five and declared its second innings at 402 for eight which left Kerala with a target of 330 in 82 overs.
Kerala recovered from the early blows to score 154 for three in 63 overs when rain stopped play 20 minutes before the scheduled close. Heavy rain during the lunch break wiped away 70 minute of playing time.
Debutant opener A.K. Akarsh was forced to retire after being hit on the head by a ball from Jaydev Unadkat. The ball didn’t bounce much and the ball hit the batter on the back of his head as he ducked.
Nayanar was dropped twice in the slips off Chirag Jani and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja before he entered the double figures. Despite the missed opportunities, Jadeja dismissed Rohan Kunnammal for five to lift Saurashtra’s spirits.
Sachin Baby fell to a bat-pad in the last over before lunch to leave Kerala in a spot of bother.
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Nayanar got yet another reprieve when Prerak Mankad spilled the edge in the slips off the bowling of Jadeja. The 23-year-old batter made Saurashtra pay for its largesse, overcoming his shaky start to grow in confidence and produce a determined, match-saving knock.
Abhishek, who was let off by Jadeja off his own bowling, along with Varun added 59 runs for the third wicket and more importantly it consumed time and overs.
Jadeja got the breakthrough when Abhishek played on for 19. But Ahammed Imran (42 not out 46b, 8×4) played the spinners fluently and with Nayanar added 58 runs for the fourth wicket when rain brought an early end to the proceedings.
The scores:
Kerala — 1st innings: 233.
Saurashtra — 2nd innings: Harvik Desai c Rohan b Nidheesh 5, Gajjar Sammar b Basil 31, Jay Gohil lbw b Nidheesh 24, Arpit Vasavada c Azharuddeen b Aparajith 74, Chirag Jani b Basil 152, Prerak Mankad b Nidheesh 62, Ansh Gosai c Basil b Nidheesh 10, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja c Azharuddeen b Basil 5, Yuvrajsinh Dodiya not out 12, Jaydev Unadkat not out 11; Extras: (b-5, lb-2, nb-3, w-6): 16; Total (for eight wkts decl. in 98 overs): 402.
Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-50, 3-69, 4-243, 5-348, 6-368, 7-373, 8-378
Kerala bowling: Ndheesh 23-2-83-4, Basil 18-3-64-3, Eden 15-2-47-0, Aparajith 20-1-73-1, Ankit 19-1-111-0, Imran 3-0-17-0.
Kerala — 2nd innings: A.K. Akarsh retd.hurt 5, Rohan S. Kunnummal lbw b Jadeja 5, Sachin Baby c Gosai b Yuvrajsinh, Varun Nayanar not out 66, Abhishek P Nair (c.sub) b Jadeja 19, Ahammed Imran not out 42; Extras: (b-1): 1; Total (for three wks. in 63 overs): 154.
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-37, 3-96.
Saurashtra bowling: Unadkat 11.4-3-41-0, Jadeja 27-7-52-2, Jani 5-2-9-0, Kanbi 1-0-1-0, Yuvrajsinh 13-4-33-1, Mankad 3-1-3-0.
Match Drawn
Published on Nov 11, 2025
