Ranji Trophy round 7: Vishnu Vinod scores century as Kerala flexes batting might against Goa

Kerala’s batters flexed their muscles for the second day running as they put their side in control against Goa in their Ranji Trophy 2025-26 group-stage match at the GCA Ground in Porvorim on Saturday.

Skipper Vishnu Vinod’s breezy hundred glued together Kerala’s batting efforts on the third day, as the away side amassed 526/9 declared, to gain a 171-run first-innings lead.

In response, Goan openers Suyash Prabhudessai and Kashyap Bakhale added 18 runs from four overs before Stumps.

Earlier, Vishnu formed crucial middle-order alliances with Ahammed Imran and Ankit Sharma to chart Kerala’s ascendancy.

Vishnu’s knock was a stroke-filled endeavour studded with adventurous sweeps and elegant flicks, as he scored his third First-Class hundred in just 110 deliveries.

The 32-year-old’s rousing surge stood in contrast with his team’s sedate approach in the morning session. After having streaked at over four runs per over on Friday, Kerala restarted its batting essay cautiously.

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Overnight batters Rohan Kunnummal and Salman Nizar kept their attacking shots in check, adding just 31 runs from 14 overs in the opening hour.

Rohan and Salman were extra guarded against the accurate medium pace of V Koushik, who rarely strayed from a fifth-stump line throughout his morning spell.

The day’s first boundary came only in its 16th over, when Rohan caressed an overpitched delivery from left-arm spinner Darshan Misal through covers for a four.

The Kerala opener ticked on and brought up his maiden First-Class 150, but was soon dismissed after slicing left-arm pacer Arjun Tendulkar to deep cover.

Goa gained another breakthrough before Lunch when Salman, who had just reached his fifty, chipped a return catch to off-spinner Lalit Yadav.

But Kerala’s prospects were reinstated by Vishnu and Imran, who put on a 93-run stand for the fifth wicket to put their side ahead in the contest.

Soon enough, Vishnu and Ankit drove home the advantage for Kerala by adding 60 runs in just over 10 overs.

Despite Kerala’s gains on Saturday, this game looks destined for a draw, unless the away bowlers manage to trigger a major Goan collapse early on in the final day.

Published on Jan 31, 2026