A maiden first-class hundred from young Vathsal Govind and a four-wicket haul from Basil Thampi ensured that Kerala secured an innings and 166-run win over minnows Meghalaya in three days in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group 'A' opener in Rajkot on Saturday. Sixteen-year-old pacer Edhen Apple Tom entered the record books by claiming a wicket off the first ball in the second innings to do an encore of his first innings feat.
It was a rare instance in Ranji Trophy history where a debutant pacer snared wickets with his first deliveries in both the innings of the match.
Kerala gave an opportunity to Vathsal to complete his century on Day 3 morning and he obliged. With Sreesanth holding fort at one end, the 22-year-old was associated in a 51-run stand for the ninth wicket with the former India speedster. Sreesanth fell for 19 and Kerala declared their innings at 505 for nine. Vathsal remained unbeaten on 106 (193 balls, 8x4, 1x6). Needing 367 runs to wipe off the first innings deficit, Meghalaya's innings got off to the worst possible start as left-arm seamer U Manu Krishnan had opener Kishan Lyngdoh playing on to the stumps for a blob in just the fourth ball of the first over.
Basil then struck a double blow by removing Wallam Kynshi and captain Punit Bisht (0) in successive overs.
Skipper Sachin Baby handed the red cherry to Apple Tom just before the lunch break and the debutant by removed the experienced Ravi Teja (2) of his first ball.
Though Chirag Khurana launched a counter-attack after lunch, it only helped in reducing the margin of defeat for Meghalaya. Chirag's innings finally ended when Apple Tom trapped him in front of the wicket for a 70-ball 75.
After Chirag's exit, Dippu Sangma (55*) tried to hang around but ran out of partners as off-spinner Jalaj Saxena sliced through the Meghalaya tail. For Kerala, Basil Thampi claimed four wickets while Jalaj accounted for three.
Apple Tom, who claimed two wickets in the second innings, finished with a match-haul of six wickets and earned the man-of-the-match award in a memorable Ranji debut.
Kerala coach Tinu Yohannan was happy with the result, but admitted that stiffer test awaits his team.
"Almost all the batsmen got runs and all the bowlers were in the wickets column. So in a sense, it was perfect preparation for the bigger challenges that lie ahead. Against our opponents in the next match, Gujarat, we just need to back ourselves and execute our plans well. Results will follow," said Tinu.
Brief scores:
Meghalaya: 148 and 191 (Chirag Khurana 75, Dippu Sangma 55 not out; Basil Thampi 4/43, Jalaj Saxena 3/28) lost to Kerala 505/9 decl (Rahul P 147, Rohan Kunnummal 107, Vathsal Govind 106 not out; Aryan Bora 3/105).
