Keen finish likely in Andhra-Kerala game

The low scoring Andhra-Kerala South Zone Ranji Trophy match is poised for a keen finish. At stumps on the second day at the Regional Engineering college ground in Kozhikode on Friday, Andhra had an overall lead of 151 runs with two second innings wickets intact.

Off spinner B Ramprakash (6 for 68) played a leading role in restricting Andhra to a first innings total of 168 on Thursday after an opening stand of 66 runs between skipper Amit Pathak (31) and LNP Reddy (48). On Friday, Andhra hit back by keeping the Kerala lead down to 18 runs. VJT Ram Mohan (4 for 33) and H Watekar (3 for 44) were the main wicket-takers. Opener S Sashikanth scored a valuable 38 and then Sunil Oasis and Ramprakash added 55 runs for the fifth wicket off 23.5 overs after four wickets had gone down for 67. Oasis scored 33 while Ramprakash followed his fine bowling by top scoring with 44 before he was seventh out in the 57th over. He faced 116 balls and hit five fours. Skipper KN Ananthapadmanabhan bolstered the late order with a well struck 30 off 61 balls with two fours and a six, enabling Kerala to reach 186.

Andhra started well in their second innings with LNP Reddy (49) and Nagini Kumar (47) adding 70 runs for the second wicket off 27.2 overs. But then Ramprakash and Oasis got among the wickets and Andhra ended the day at 169 for eight. Ramprakash's 4 for 75 from 25 overs has already given him ten wickets for the match while Oasis by close, had taken four for 25 off nine overs.