Vidarbha batter Danish Malewar celebrates after scoring a century on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy final against Kerala in Nagpur on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
Danish Malewar’s knock stabilised Vidarbha’s innings.
| Photo Credit:
NIRMAL HARINDRAN
NAGPUR
Danish Malewar put on a display worthy of the grandest of stages in domestic cricket. With his unbeaten 138 (259b, 356min, 14×4 2×6), he frustrated Kerala on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy final on Wednesday
The 21-year-old’s superbly constructed innings not merely helped Vidarbha tide over a bumpy start, but take the day’s honours. The host, put into by the first-time finalist, finished at 254 for four at the VCA Stadium here on Wednesday.
This is the second hundred for Malewar in his maiden season; and he has hit five fifties, too. It was his fourth-wicket partnership of 215 with Karun Nair (86, 188b, 308min, 8×4, 1×6) that erased the smile off the Kerala players’ faces. Sachin Baby’s men, however, must be relieved that the Test triple-centurion was run out shortly before close. That was, however, after he completed 8,000 runs in First Class cricket.
A fine opening spell by M.D. Nidheesh had suggested Kerala’s gamble to bowl first might perhaps work: Vidarbha was reduced to 24 for three. But, only one of those wickets belonged to a frontline batter.
Possibly to counter the favourable conditions for bowling in the first session, Vidarbha promoted two men up the order. Neither lasted long.
Parth Rekhade was found to be leg-before wicket on review: the ball from Nidheesh had shaped in enough.
The tall seamer struck again in his fourth over. Darshan Nalkande’s half-hearted attempt to pull found the fielder at square-leg. Nidheesh’s first spell read 6-4-5-2.
Eden Apple Tom, playing his first Ranji match after the 2021-22 season during which he became the first from Kerala to take a wicket with his first ball in First Class cricket, accounted for Dhruv Shorey. The opener chose to play a ball that moved slightly away, and was caught well by the wicketkeeper Mohammed Azharuddeen.
Not for the first time, Malewar and Karun built a big partnership, choosing only the right balls to punish. The younger man got to 99 with a six, stepping out against Aditya Sarwate.
Earlier, two fours off the back foot through the leg-side off an Eden over showed how good he could be. Worryingly for Kerala, more batters in form are still to come – including Yash Rathod, the man who has made 933 runs so far this season.
The scores:
Vidarbha — 1st Innings: Parth Rekhade lbw b Nidheesh 0, Dhruv Shorey c Azharuddeen b Eden 16, Darshan Nalkande c Basil b Nidheesh 1, Danish Malewar (batting) 138, Karun Nair run out 86, Yash Thakur (batting) 5; Extras (b-4, lb-1, w-1, nb-2) 8; Total (for four wkts. in 86 overs): 254.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-11, 3-24, 4-239.
Kerala bowling: Nidheesh 18-7-33-2, Eden 21-5-66-1, Sarwate 12-2-46-0, Basil 14-4-36-0, Jalaj 14-0-46-0 Akshay 7-0-22-0.
Published – February 26, 2025 07:24 pm IST