Medium pacer Rajneesh Gurbani rocked Kerala with the vintage new ball on Day 2 (Images via X/@BCCIdomestic) Thiruvananthapuram: Day two in rain-restricted Thiruvananthapuram brought thrilling passages of play as Maharashtra cruised to 239 before medium-pacer Rajneesh Gurbani rocked Kerala with the vintage new ball.The home side faltered at 35/3 after tea, already teetering on a deficit of 204 runs, when rain halted what was shaping up to be a fascinating match.Play began at 12:10 PM after morning showers and Maharashtra resumed at 179/7. A dogged lower order added 60 hard-fought runs, thwarting Kerala’s attack in bowler-friendly conditions. But MD Nidheesh kept probing and was finally rewarded, finishing with 5/49, just reward for his perseverance.
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Then came Gurbani. The man who famously dismantled Kerala in a five-wicket haul in the 2017 Ranji quarter-final at Surat is back to haunt them. With the new ball in hand and the moisture still clinging to the surface, opener Akshay Chandran was trapped lbw for a duck. Chandran was guilty of playing in the delivery line. With the stroke of the tea break, Gurbani had Kerala No. 3 Baba Aparajith caught and pounced on him. A little over 35 overs could be bowled before the rain returned at 3:30 p.m., leaving the game over just four balls after the tea break. Still, Gurbani’s charm stood out, his probing lines, movement and command evoking memories of his prime.With overcast skies forecast and a surface still offering help, day three looms large. But the script remains well prepared. However, Kerala pacer N Basil is hoping for a turnaround. “We had one bad game today. We’re confident we’ll turn it around tomorrow. Even our No. 1 hitter can hit,” Basil said at the end of the game.“My aim is to win at least three matches for Kerala this season,” he added.
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Kerala’s middle order must now summon the steel to counter Maharashtra’s momentum. The visitors, led by a rejuvenated Gurbani, sense an opportunity to tighten the noose. Tomorrow morning’s session could affect the outcome of this thrilling contest.Brief scores: Maharashtra 239 (R Gaikwad 91, J Saxena 49, MD Nidheesh 5/49) lead Kerala 35/3 (R Gurbani 2/20) by 204 runs at stumps on Day 2.
