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Kerala qualify for first ever Ranji Trophy final in dramatic fashion (Photograph: X)
Sachin Baby led Kerala have created history by qualifying for their first ever Ranji Trophy finals. Their match with Gujarat ended in a draw as Kerala took a close 2-run lead in the first innings. Hosts Gujarat started the day having lost seven wickets and still needing 28 runs to take the lead.
Aditya Sarwate got the biggest wicket when he dismissed Jaymeet Patel for 79. Siddharth Desai and Arzan Nagwaswalla then added 10 runs for the ninth wicket in 27 balls. This stand ended when Desai trapped LBW by Sarwate for 30. Desai was initially given out caught, but the TV umpire saw no spike on the bat. It was during the LBW check it was seen that Desai was struck on the pads.
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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 | #SF1pic.twitter.com/VCasFTzbB7
1⃣ wicket in hand
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 21, 2025
2⃣ runs to equal scores
3⃣ runs to secure a crucial First-Innings Lead
Joy. Despair. Emotions. Absolute Drama! 😮
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/kisimA9o9w#RanjiTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank | #GUJvKER | #SF1pic.twitter.com/LgTkVfRH7q
Nagwaswall and number 11 batter Priyajitsing Jadeja added nine runs for the last wicket in 62 balls. Nagwaswalla went for a flick and the ball hit the helmet of the short leg fielder and flew to Sachin Baby who took the catch. Once umpire confirmed the decision entire Kerala team began celebrating.
In their second innings, the visitors batted for 46 overs and scored 114/4 before the game was called off. There were huge cheers from the visiting players as soon as the game was over and Jalaj Saxena was seen pumping his fists in delight. Kerala will now meet Vidarbha who beat defending champions Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy finals.
Vidarbha survive scare to beat Mumbai
In the other semi-finals, Mumbai started the day still needing 323 runs with seven wickets in hand. Yash Thakur first got the wicket of Shivam Dube for 12 and Harsh Dubey then dismissed Suryakumar Yadav for 23. Akash Anand was the sixth wicket to fall LBW to Dubey for 39.
Shams Mulani and Shardul Thakur then added a key stand of 103 runs in 177 balls as the visitors felt they were back in the game. Mulani was run out against the run of play for 46 thanks to terrific throw by Danish Malewar. The game changed once more when Shardul Thakur was bowled by Yash Thakur for 66 runs.
Tanush Kotian was then out for 26 to leave Mumbai still needing 130 runs for an unlikely win. Last wicket pair of Mohit Avasthi and Royston Dias added 52 runs in just 55 balls to keep Mumbai in the hunt. Harsh Dubey ended the game after tea when he trapped Avasthi LBW for 34 to help his side win the game by 80 runs.