KOLKATA: Hosts Bihar took a commanding position in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B game against Kerala at Moin-ul Haq Stadium in Patna on Sunday.
At stumps on Day 3, Kerala were still trailing Bihar by 88 runs as the visitors reached 62 runs for two wickets from 17 overs in their second innings.
Earlier, Bihar finished their first innings on 377 runs from 113.3 overs, taking a huge 150-run first-innings lead over their opponents. Kerala had made 227 batting first in the game.
Unbeaten on 120, Bihar batter Sakibul Gani added 30 more to his overnight tally to finish at 150 from 225 balls with 17 fours and two sixes. Gani returned a catch to Akshay Chandran off veteran Jalaj Saxena's bowling which put an end to a nicely-crafted innings which put Bihar in a solid position in the match.
Thereafter, the Bihar tail wagged and the 40-run partnership between Veer Pratap Singh (16 runs off 71 balls) and captain Ashutosh Aman (26 off 58) for the ninth wicket helped the home side reach 377.
Akhin Sathar was the most successful Kerala bowler taking 3 for 50.
Returning to bat in the second essay, captain Rohan Kunnummal and Anand Krishnan put on 40 inside 10 overs before the latter was trapped by Vipul Krishna in front of the stumps for Bihar's first breakthrough. Next, Aman castled his counterpart to down Kerala to 58/2 in the 15th over of Kerala innings. Sachin Baby (6 batting) and Chandran (2 batting) were at the crease.
Brief scores (Group B, in Patna): Kerala 227 & 62/2 in 17 overs (R Kunnummal 37; Aman 1/7). Bihar (o/n 270/5) 377 in 113.3 overs (S Gani 150; Sathar 3/50). Match to continue.
