Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Sachin Baby century rescues Kerala against Odisha

Sachin Baby scored 112 from 235 balls for Kerala against Odisha. | Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN

Sachin Baby stepped into his familiar role as crisis man with aplomb, scoring his 16th first class century to rescue Kerala on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy match against Odisha at the Sports Hub, Greenfield Stadium here on Sunday.

After being put in, Kerala was staring down the barrel after a disastrous start (18 for three) but Baby turned the savior with a masterful knock (112, 235b, 11x4, 1x6). Mohammed Azharuddeen made a timely return to form (72 batting 135b, 6x4) and his alliance with Baby for the sixth wicket (141 runs) helped Kerala recover from 101 for five to end the first day at 245 for six.

Earlier, Odisha medium pacers Rajesh Mohanty and Lalit Yadav made optimum use of the seamer friendly conditions and had Kerala on the mat at the end of the first hour. Abhishek P. Nair, the centurion from the first match, drove loosely at a delivery from Rajesh and was caught at point by Soumya Lenka for a duck.

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The promoted Jalaj Saxena lasted only six balls as Lalit squared him up and had him caught in the slips. Abhishek J. Nair (11) was caught behind by Sandeep Dhuper off Lalit to leave Kerala tottering at 18 for three.

The recovery began when Baby added 40 runs for the fourth wicket with captain Vishnu Vinod (21) who was caught behind off Lenka. Salman Nizar and Baby defied the Odisha attack to add 43 runs for the fifth wicket. Salman (21) was dismissed playing back to Badal Biswal soon after the lunch break.

Azharuddeen had an early stroke of fortune when Shantanu Mishra dropped him in the slips when he was on five, but he made Odisha pay dearly for the miss with a watchful knock. However, the new ball gave Odisha the much needed breakthrough as Baby was caught down the legside off Lenka.

The scores:

Kerala --1st innings: Abhishek P. Nair c Lenka b Rajesh 0, Abhishek J. Nair c Dhuper b Lalit 11, Jalaj Saxena c Pattnaik b Lalit 0, Sachin Baby c Dhuper b Lenka 112, Vishnu Vinod c Dhuper b Lenka 21, Salman Nizar lbw Badal 21, Mohammed Azharuddeen (batting) 72, Aditya Sarvate (batting) 3; Extras: (b-1, lb-3, w-1): 5; Total (for six wkts in 85 overs): 245.

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-3, 3-18, 4-58, 5-101, 6-242.

Odisha bowling: Rajesh: 14-5-51-1, Lalit 14-2-29-2, Soumya 11-2-41-2, Badal 22-5-52-1, Ninad 17-3-45-0, Shantanu 7-0-23-0.