Ranji Trophy: Kerala give away upperhand against Himachal Pradesh

NADAUN (Himachal Pradesh): Himachal Pradesh fought back after initial jitters to post 257 for seven against Kerala on day one of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium in Nadaun on Monday.
Ankit Kalsi is unbeaten on 89 (178 balls; 11x4) and the left-hander's 105-run fifth wicket partnership with Raghav Dhawan (58 off 80 balls; 9x4, 1x6) rescued Himachal who were 82 for four at one stage.
For Kerala, Nidheesh MD (4/81), the third pace-bowling option when the team plays away in seamer-friendly conditions, did the early damage prizing out Ankush Bains (10), captain Prashant Chopra (23) and Nikhil Gangta (28) after Basil Thampi had removed the experienced Rishi Dhawan (2) Things were going according to their wish for Kerala after they had won the toss and put the hosts into bat.
Kalsi, who has been the standout batsman for Himachal this season with already two centuries to his name, and Raghav moved the scoreboard along a fair clip till the tea break.
Nidheesh would return to break the stand as he trapped Raghav leg-before in the final session. Kerala were given a late boost by Sandeep Warrier (2/56) who dismissed Amit Kumar and Mayank Dagar in the same over. But they would have preferred to be in a better position at the close of play, especially in a game where they need to win with a bonus point to maintain hopes of advancing.
Kerala were without their most important player Jalaj Saxena who was left out owing to pain in his Achilles tendon. Vinoop Manoharan came in place for him but the off-spinner was not able to make much impact on the first-day pitch in his eight overs.
Left-arm spinner Sijomon Joseph bowled 18 overs and would have had Kalsi's wicket but for VA Jagadeesh's drop at the slips towards the close of play. Jagadeesh had replaced Arun Karthick in the playing eleven.
"The day could have been better. We should have got more wickets, especially after taking four for 80-odd. We did not capitalize on that start. It's a bit harsh on our inexperienced spinners to say that they did not take wickets on this first-day wicket," Kerala coach Dav Whatmore told TOI after the day's play.
Brief scores: Himachal Pradesh 257/7 in 87 overs (A Kalsi 89*, R Dhawan 58; M Nidheesh 4/81) vs Kerala.