Ahmedabad: Gujarat played a thriller contest against Kerala in the semi-final of the Ranji Trophy and on the last day of the fixture on Friday saw the latter entering the final of the tournament for the first time. They entered the title decider for the first time in the history of 74 years taking a lead of two runs in the first innings of the match. A two-run lead in the morning session on the fifth day of the morning session after a dramatic conclusion paved the way for the victory. Also, the last wicket of the Guajrat’s innings fell in a bizarre manner and Gujarat missed out with a close margin of a couple of runs.
Gujarat’s Arzan Nagwaswalla was on strike while Aditya Sarwate was bowling after taking two early wickets in the morning session of the fifth day. The spinner bowled a loppy delivery and tempted Nagwaswalla to go for a huge hit. The batter went for an attacking shot but the ball hit on the helmet of the fielder stationed at short leg. After hitting the helmet of Salman Nizar the ball ballooned upwards and Sachin Baby grabbed the catch.
A special moment for Kerala 👌
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 21, 2025
They have qualified for the final for the first time in the #RanjiTrophy 👏
It's Vidarbha vs Kerala in the final showdown 🔥
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/kisimA9o9w#RanjiTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank | #GUJvKER | #SF1 pic.twitter.com/VCasFTzbB7
Kerala opted to bat after winning the toss and posted 457 thanks to a knock-unbeaten 177 by Mohammed Azharuddeen. Sachin Baby and Salman Nizar scored the fifties for the team and played a key role in the team’s huge total. Nagwaswalla picked three wickets. In response, Kerala fought strongly mustering a total of 455 with Priyank Panchal topped the scorecard with 148 runs. Aarya Desai and Jaymeet Patel racked up the fifties and played a supporting role. Jalaz Saxena picked four wickets.
Kerala will now square off against Vidarbha, who enter the final after beating 42-time Champions Mumbai by 80 runs. The final of the Ranji Trophy will be played from February 26 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium at Jamtha in Nagpur.
Kerala Cricket Association President Jayesh George was elated over the development. "It is a historic day and we were all looking forward to this day as we have been playing good cricket for the entire season," Jayesh George, a former office-bearer of BCCI, told ETV Bharat over the phone.
"Luck also factored a little bit. Gujarat also played a good amount of cricket but fortune favours the brave. For the entire tournament, we topped the group. And without losing a match, we qualified for the knockouts. It is a proud moment for all of us, the office bearers, players, and former players. We are looking forward to this day," he added.
"We all know Kerala was minnows all these years and were ranked 30th or 34th long back and now because of the academies KCA provided....we took a decision to field two youngsters, who made their debut in such an important match. Congrats to the team, who held their nerves, they fought hard in the entire season, all those matches against Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir were nail biting and full credit to the coach and boys," added Jayesh George.
