Salman Nizar played a crucial innings for Kerala as they took on Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy Final 2024-25 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur. After Vidarbha posted a strong total in the first innings, Kerala found themselves in early trouble, but Salman Nizar’s gritty knock of 66 not out helped steady the innings.
Vidarbha’s First Innings: Strong Start with Karun Nair Leading the Charge
Vidarbha won the toss and opted to bat first. The team suffered an early setback as M.D. Nidheesh dismissed opener Parth Rekhade for a duck. However, a crucial partnership between Karun Nair and Danish Malewar helped Vidarbha recover. Karun Nair’s well-constructed 87 and important contributions from Harsh Dubey and others guided Vidarbha to a first-innings total of 379.
Kerala’s bowling attack, led by M.D. Nidheesh (3 wickets) and Mohammed Azharuddeen, managed to restrict Vidarbha from crossing the 400-run mark.
Kerala’s Struggles and Salman Nizar’s Resilience
Chasing Vidarbha’s total, Kerala had a shaky start, losing wickets at regular intervals. However, Salman Nizar stepped up with a determined knock, anchoring the innings alongside captain Sachin Baby. At stumps on Day 2, Kerala was at 131/3, still trailing but with hopes of a strong comeback.
Key Players in Focus
- Salman Nizar – His 66 not out was a standout performance, keeping Kerala in the game.
- M.D. Nidheesh – Provided early breakthroughs, keeping the Vidarbha batters in check.
- Karun Nair – Vidarbha’s top performer with the bat, scoring a crucial 87.
- Harsh Dubey – Contributed with both bat and ball, adding depth to Vidarbha’s total.
What’s Next?
With Kerala still trailing, the focus will be on Salman Nizar and Mohammed Azharuddeen to build a strong total and challenge Vidarbha. The Ranji Trophy Final remains finely balanced, with both teams vying for glory.
Live Score Updates: Fans can follow the Kerala vs Vidarbha live score on ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz to track every moment of this thrilling final.
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