A horrible mix-up cost Karun Nair (86) a well-deserved century, but his 215-run partnership with Danish Malewar (138 not out) guided Vidarbha to a strong 254/4 at stumps on Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy final against Kerala in Nagpur.
Vidarbha found themselves in deep trouble at 24/3, with Kerala’s seamers striking early. However, Nair and Malewar counterattacked brilliantly, consuming 414 deliveries in a gritty fourth-wicket stand that turned the tide in the hosts’ favor.
Just when it seemed Nair was set for a hundred, a poorly judged single ended his innings. In the 82nd over, Eden Apple Tom bowled a delivery that swung more than expected, forcing wicketkeeper Mohammed Azharuddeen to move to his right. The ball slipped past him and the first slip, prompting both batters to attempt a risky run. Rohan Kunnummal at second slip reacted swiftly, executing a direct hit at the striker’s end, catching Nair short of his crease.
Frustrated, Nair (86 off 188 balls, 8x4s, 1x6s) threw his bat in agony, but his valuable knock helped Vidarbha recover. He also played the role of a mentor, guiding the young Malewar through a challenging phase.
Malewar, the 21-year-old batting at No. 4, remained unbeaten on 138 off 259 balls, registering his second First-Class century in his debut season. His innings, filled with elegant strokes, saw him score 14 fours and 2 sixes, with the bulk of his runs coming in the midwicket and long-on regions.
Earlier, Kerala’s bowlers exploited the green-top wicket expertly. MD Nidheesh (2/33) was particularly impressive, using the fresh grass to extract movement off the surface. Playing in their maiden Ranji final, Kerala had Vidarbha on the ropes before the resilient fourth-wicket partnership turned the tables.
With Malewar still at the crease, Vidarbha will look to build on their formidable first-day total and push towards a commanding position in the summit clash.
