Sreekumar helps Kerala to a fine win

A fine spell of spin bowling by left armer Sreekumar Nair (4 for 27) and Chandrashekara (3 for 18) saw Kerala score a 3 run win over Goa in the South Zone Ranji Trophy One day tournament match at the Southern Railway Ground in Chennai on Tuesday.

With the match being reduced to 35 overs a side due to wet ground conditions, Goa were set a target of 145. The Kerala seamer Tinu Youhanan bowling a good line had opener A Amonkar (12) caught by Nair in his second over. This brought in Tanveer Jabbar (55) in to the middle and with Kolambkar (19) took the score to 61. The Goa skipper Preveen Amre who replaced Kolambkar failed to impress, holding out to Tinu Youhanan at Long on giving Sreekumar his first wicket.

Jabbar at the other end was looking as compact as ever. Jabbar carried on inspite of losing his partners at regular intervals. He was the seventh batsman to be dismissed with the score on 114. The fact that Goa were running out of overs and wickets made Jabbar attempt a extravagant shot off Nair. Trying to step out and lift the bowler, he was beaten and lost his off stump. Then K Angle tried valiantly to revive the Goan Innings. With eight to be scored of the last over the match was heading to the wire. But an excellent final over by Tinu Youhanan was Kerala scrape through.

Earlier the match started as late as 12 noon after three inspections by the umpires. Kerala who were put into bat managed to put up 144 for 7 on the board thanks to a 66 run fourth wicket partnership between opener MP Sorab (53) and skipper Sunil Oasis (36). Sorab, Oasis and Kudua (11) none of the other batsmen managed to reach double figures.