Ranji Trophy 2018-19, Round 4, Day 2, Elite B: Madhya Pradesh inch closer to first win of season

Madhya Pradesh took another step towards securing their first win of the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy season after reducing Kerala to 38/4 in second innings before stumps were drawn on Day 2 of their Round 4, Elite B match.

The pace duo of Avesh Khan and Kuldeep Sen continued to trouble the hosts at the St’ Xavier’s KCA Cricket Ground in Trivandrum sharing four wickets between them with Kerala still trailing by 227 runs.

Kuldeep struck in the first over by cleaning up Arun Karthick on 4 before pinning Rohan Prem in front for a four-ball duck in his next over. Avesh Khan took care of in-form Jalaj Saxena (1) and Akshay Chandran (2) putting MP in complete control.

This was after MP took 265-run lead as they were all out for 328 in their first innings. Their innings was powered by half-centuries from captain Naman Ojha (79), Yash Dubey (79) and Rajat Patidar (73).

Resuming on their overnight total of 161/2, MP lost Patidar early as he could add just three to his total before falling to Sandeep Warrier. Shubham Sharma was run out for a duck in the same over before Ojha and Dubey restored the order with a 70-run stand.

KC Akshay broke the partnership when he had Ojha out caught behind. With wickets falling at the other end, Dubey batted solidly, taking them past the 300-run mark after Basil Thampi’s double-strike.

Dubey fell to Jalaj, who was the pick of Kerala bowlers with figures of 4/120.

Brief Scores: Kerala 63 and 38/4 (Sachin Baby 20; Avesh Khan 2/10, Kuldeep Sen 2/11) trail Madhya Pradesh 328 by 227 runs