Image: Vidarbha finished the first day of the match against Kerala with a score of 254/4 / © India Today
With the Ranji Trophy final underway in Nagpur, Vidarbha ended Day 1 at 254/4 in 86 overs against Kerala, after being sent in to bat. Danish Malewar led the charge with an unbeaten 138 off 259 balls, striking 14 fours and 2 sixes. Karun Nair played a crucial supporting role, scoring 86 off 188 balls before being run out. The duo stitched together a vital 215-run partnership for the fourth wicket, stabilizing Vidarbha’s innings after early setbacks.
Vidarbha had a shaky start, losing three wickets inside the first 13 overs. MD Nidheesh provided Kerala with early breakthroughs, dismissing Parth Rekhade for a duck and Darshan Nalkande for 1, while Eden Apple Tom removed Dhruv Shorey for 16. Vidarbha struggled at 24/3 before Malewar and Nair took control, guiding them past the 200-run mark.
Kerala’s bowlers toiled hard, with Nidheesh (2/33) being the standout performer. Eden Apple Tom took 1/66, while the rest of the attack, including Jalaj Saxena and Nedumankuzhy Basil, remained wicketless. Vidarbha took the second new ball at 81.4 overs, and Yash Thakur (5*) partnered with Malewar to ensure no further damage. With Vidarbha rebuilding, Day 2 will be crucial for both teams.