A late shot of adrenaline by Basil Thampi gave Kerala its first win of the season in the Ranji Trophy cricket tournament at the St. Xavier’s College ground here on Monday. Banished to patrol the ropes for a major part of the day, Thampi was summoned by captain Sanju Samson to bowl only after tea.
Chasing a mammoth target of 449, the Bengal lower-order, led by Shahbaz Ahmed frustrated Kerala in the post lunch session.
The seventh-wicket stand between Shahbaz Ahmed (80) and Karan Lal (40) added 83 quick runs and treated the Kerala spinners with disdain which forced Samson to turn to his medium-pacer.