Kerala’s tactics were bizarre after having the opposition on the mat as it allowed Bengal a whiff of a chance to force a draw on the final day of the Ranji Trophy match at the St.Xavier’s College ground here.
Kerala didn’t enforce the follow-on after bundling out Bengal for 180 in the first innings. The host batted for two sessions and declared the second innings at 265 for six to leave Bengal a mammoth target of 448 to win. Bengal finished day three at 77 for two on a track with variable bounce and faces a daunting task on Monday.
Kerala ended the day on a high as leg spinner Shreyas Gopal got a delivery to climb and took the edge of Sudip Kumar Gharami’s (31) bat and to the safe hands of Akshay Chandran in the slips.
