Kerala appropriate first innings points

Kerala had the better of the exchanges in their drawn Ranji Trophy South Zone clash against Andhra at Vijayawada. A 217 run first innings lead was enough for Kerala to log five points and restrict their opponenst to three. On the final day today, Kerala declared after facing just four balls. In that time their overnight score of 453/7 moved up to 461 but more significantly M Suresh Kumar completed his maiden first class century off 125 balls, with 7 fours and 4 sixes. Ajay Kudua the other unconquered batsman closed at 158 (242 balls, 21 fours, 1 six). Andhra's Madhukar and Watekar toiled hard for their three wickets each.

Skipper Amit Pathak then followed up his first innings 58 with a century as Andhra batted out the day to close at 228/3 in 82 overs. Pathak and LNP Reddy (43) added 105 for the opening wicket after which new kid on the block Y Gnaneswara Rao, all of 16 years old, who'd fallen for a second ball nought in the first innings salvaged his debut with an unbeaten 56. Pathak fell for 101 (177 balls, 13 fours, 1 six) and Venugopala Rao had a second failure inflicted on him soon after but it was all purely academic.