Kerala enter Ranji Trophy semis

Pune, Feb 12: Kerala produced a doughty batting effort to hang on to a draw against Jammu and Kashmir, and progressed to the Ranji Trophy semifinals on the back of a slender 1-run first innings lead here on Wednesday.
Player of the match Salman Nizar (44 not out, 162 balls, 8×4) and Mohammed Azharuddeen (67 not out, 118b, 9×4 2×6) saw off nearly 43 overs during their unbroken 115-run alliance for the seventh wicket as Kerala made 295 for six in their second innings.
Their partnership was enough for Kerala, overnight 100 for two, to see off the final day’s proceedings, and set up a semi-final meeting with former champions Gujarat from February 17.
This will only be Kerala’s second appearance in the Ranji Trophy last four round after the 2018-19 season.
They had lost to eventual champions Vidarbha by an innings and 11 runs at Wayanad last time.
“We believed in ourselves and took it (partnership) through the blocks of 10 runs each. J&K bowlers were also made our task tough. It was a similar approach we had adopted in the first innings,” said Nizar during the presentation ceremony. (PTI)