VID v KER, Ranji Trophy 2024-25 final: Karun’s century puts Vidarbha potentially on winner’s seat vs Kerala
VID v KER, Ranji Trophy 2024-25 final: Karun’s century puts Vidarbha potentially on winner’s seat vs Kerala
Karun Nair loves to bat on and on. He loves it more if the stage is grander, like a Ranji Trophy final. Back in 2014-15, he had made 328 to help Karnataka score a massive victory over Tamil Nadu.
A decade later, he has stamped his authority in another Ranji Trophy final. His unbeaten 132 (280b, 373min, 10×4, 2×6) has virtually ensured Vidarbha its third title in India’s most prestigious domestic tournament.
Riding on Karun’s class, the host ended the fourth day at 249 for four at the VCA Stadium. It is ahead by 286 runs going into Sunday’s final day.
This is Karun’s ninth hundred across formats this season. It could easily have been 10th if he hadn’t been run out for 86 in the first innings.
The main reason behind what now looks like Vidarbha’s match-winning first innings total was his fourth-wicket stand of 215 with Danish Malewar. The two batters, who clearly love each other’s company, frustrated Kerala on Saturday too, adding 182 for the third wicket.
And Vidarbha badly needed that partnership. Both the openers were back in the dressing room inside three overs.
Veteran off-spinner Jalaj Saxena, who came into the attack in just the second over, had Parth Rekhade lunging forward only to have him bowled, as the ball kept low and sneaked through the gate.
In the following over, Dhruv Shorey played well away from his body and was caught by wicketkeeper Mohammed Azharuddeen, diving in front of slip. At seven for two, Vidarbha was in trouble.
It momentarily became nine for three, but Malewar, who was adjudged leg-before-wicket to Saxena, had a successful review. The 21-year-old, who had hit a sparkling hundred in the first innings, and his senior partner soon went about doing what they had been doing all season: accumulating runs with minimum risk.
Malewar (73, 162b, 263min, 5×4) was eventually caught at slip off Akshay Chandran. But Karun continued to bat serenely. He drove sweetly and when opportunities came, he went aerial, as he did against Aditya Sarwate, lofting him for consecutive sixes.
Before that, he was given a chance when on 31, but was dropped at slip by Akshay off Eden Apple Tom. Karun made Kerala pay dearly since.
