Sarwate helps Kerala fight back after Vidarbha's 379

Kerala end Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy final in Nagpur on 131/3, still 248 runs behind

- HTC & Agencies

NAGPUR: Two days in and Vidarbha are already getting an idea of what makes Kerala such a flavour of the season. Pressed by a first-innings 379, Kerala were 14/2 inside three overs after opening bowler Darshan Nalkande removed openers Akshay Chandran and Rohan Kunnummal. To end the day on 131/3 from there is already a small battle won even though Kerala are still 248 runs behind.

Aditya Sarwate's unbeaten 66 anchored Kerala's reply as the visitors kept themselves in the game at stumps on the second day of the Ranji Trophy final, after restricting the hosts to 379. It could have been more. Vidarbha could have reached 450 after reaching 254/4 on the opening day, but Kerala fought back incredibly well to keep the hosts under 400 which featured a career-best 153 from Danish Malewar and Karun Nair's 86.

Kerala, who had ended the opening day's play with the vital dismissal of Karun Nair (86), remained persistent throughout the first session on the second day as their seamers MD Nidheesh (3/61), Eden Apple Tom (3/102) and NM Basil (2/60) produced a unified show.