WATCH: Sachin Baby hangs his head in disappointment after falling for 98 in Ranji Trophy finals vs Vidarbha

The Ranji Trophy finals between Vidarbha and Kerala is going down to the wire in Nagpur. Both sides are fighting tooth and nail to take the crucial first innings lead that can help them get one hand on the coveted trophy. Kerala skipper Sachin Baby, who is playing his 100th First-Class match, had a huge chance to join an elite list. 

The former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had battled it out for 234 balls to score 98 runs. With his century in sight, the left-handed batter was dismissed in a very key juncture of the game. The incident happened in the fifth ball of the 107th over of Kerala’s innings. 

Watch the video here: 

A huge moment in the match❗️

Sachin Baby falls 2 short of his 100. A brilliant knock ends.

Parth Rekhade gets the crucial wicket!

Kerala are 324/7, trailing by 55 runs.#RanjiTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank | #Final

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/up5GVaflpppic.twitter.com/EFPJpLER5h

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 28, 2025

Parth Rekhade was bowling over the wicket to the 35-year-old who went for a slog sweep. Kerala’s skipper couldn’t time the ball well, and Karun Nair took an easy catch to help his side take a huge wicket. Once he lost his wicket, Sachin Baby could only look in complete shock as the Vidarbha players celebrated. 

Vidarbha claim key first innings lead vs Kerala

At the end of the second day’s play, Kerala were placed at 131/3, still trailing the hosts by 248 runs. Former Vidarbha player Aditya Sarwate was batting on 66 with skipper Sachin Baby on seven. The 63-run stand for the fourth wicket ended in the 17th over of the third day. Sarwate was out for 79, caught by Danish Malewar off Harsh Dubey. 

Salman Nizar joined Sachin to add 49 runs for the fifth wicket before being dismissed for 21 by Dubey. Kerala then saw Mohammad Azharuddeen score 34 off 59 balls to keep the score ticking for the visitors. Darshan Nalkande then got the wicket of Azharuddeen, with Kerala still 101 runs behind. 

Veteran Jalaj Saxena and Sachin Baby then batted well to add 46 runs for the seventh wicket in 76 balls. That’s when Rekhade got Sachin out for 98 and turned the game in his team’s favor. Saxena and Apple Eden Tom were slowly inching towards the first innings target, but a slice of luck got Saxena’s wicket.

Vidarbha skipper Akshay Wadkar had to be tended by the Physio, and this break in play saw Saxena lose his concentration. The 38-year-old was bowled for 28 to give Rekhade his second wicket. Harsh Dubey then trapped Nideesh LBW for one run to leave Kerala nine down for 33,8, still needing 41 for the first innings lead. The visitors were all out for 342 when Eden Apple Tom was bowled by Rekhade for 10 runs to give Vidarbha a lead of 37 runs.