Ranji Trophy: Senior pros put Kerala in sight of victory

Patient half-centuries Rohan Prem and Sachin Baby, and a brisk 46 from skipper Sanju Samson put Kerala in command against Chhattisgarh on Day 2 of their Ranji Trophy at St Xavier’s College ground, Thumba on Wednesday.
Crucial knocks from Kerala’s senior triumvirate helped the hosts gain a 162-run lead in the first innings over the visitors. And by stumps, Kerala had reduced Chhattisgarh to 10 for two.Sanju’s decision to open the bowling with two spinners proved crucial as Jalaj Saxena and Vaisakh Chandran dismissed the two Chhattisgarh openers, Rishabh Tiwari and Sandhya Hurkat, for blobs. Chhattisgarh need another 152 runs to make Kerala bat again and given how their batsmen have fared here so far, it would be no easy task.
Resuming at 100 for two, overnight not out batsmen Rohan and Baby batted cautiously. Rohan, who went past the 5,000-run landmark in first-class cricket, was the first to reach his fifty before Sachin followed him to the half-century club. Rohan, however, fell for 77 (157 balls, 7x4). The duo put on 123 runs for the third wicket. Sachin was run out at the same individual score, a knock that consumed 171 deliveries and was studded with six fours and a six. Akshay Chandran (12) was dismissed in the next over and Kerala had slipped to 229 for five.
With wickets kept tumbling at the other end, Sanju played a naturally attacking game before he was out runs short of his fifty. His 54-ball knock was laced with three fours and three sixes and Kerala were bowled out for 311 soon after.
Brief scores: Chhattisgarh149 & 10/2 vs Kerala 311 (Rohan Prem 77,Sachin Baby, 77, Sanju Samson 46, Sumit Rulkar 3/37).