Ranji Trophy: Baby's ton, Akshay's fifty help Kerala gain control

A recurring theme in Kerala's Ranji Trophy campaign played out at the St Xavier's College ground, Thumba on Friday after the hosts opted to take first strike against Bengal in their Group B match. Kerala dug themselves into a hole as they lost three wickets before lunch.
With skipper Sanju Samson following the three to the pavilion soon after the break, Kerala were struggling at 112 for four.But the Bengal bowlers couldn't dislodge Sachin Baby, Kerala's man for crisis situations, and he ensured that their rivals paid the price.
The only difference this time for Baby was that he got an able ally in Akshay Chandran to do the rescue act as the duo put on an unbroken century stand to put Kerala in a position of strength at stumps on Day 1. Kerala ended at 265 for four with Baby unbeaten on 110 (220 balls, 10x4, 1x6) and Akshay not out on 76 (150 balls, 7x4). The partnership between the two for the fifth wicket has so far yielded 153 runs for the hosts.
Baby's third ton this season and third successive 90-plus score helped the southpaw become the second Kerala batter to cross the 5,000-run mark and emerge as the joint-highest century maker (13) for the state along with Rohan Prem.
However, the start of the day's play was in total contrast to how it ended. The Bengal bowlers had plenty to rejoice in the morning session as the Kerala top-order failed to convert their starts.
Opener Rohan Kunnummal (19) started in customary fashion by hitting a hat-trick of fours but his attempt to hit a fourth one saw him edging the ball to Manoj Tiwary at slip of seamer Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal. Fellow pacer Akash Deep had Rohan Prem (3) caught behind and Kerala were reduced to 40 for two.
Jalaj Saxena and Baby forged a brief 42-run stand for the third wicket before the former fell at the stroke of lunch to left-arm spinner Ankit Mishra for 40.
On resumption, comeback man Shahbaz Ahmed induced a leading edge from Sanju (8) which was gleefully accepted by his opposite number Tiwary at slip.
But that was the last moment of cheer for Bengal as Baby and Chandran blunted the visitors' attack for the rest of the day.
Brief scores: Kerala 265/4 in 90 overs (Sachin Baby 110*, Akshay Chandran 76*; Suraj Jaiswal 1/40, Akash Deep 1/55) vs Bengal