Goa restricts Kerala for 204 for 8

Margao, Dec 17 (UNI) Patient half centuries by captain Shreekumar Nair (65,9x4) and opener S Suresh (58,7x4) and their 88-run partnership for the fourth wicket enabled Kerala score 204 for eight in 89.5 overs against Goa at the close of the play on the opening day of the four-day Ranji plate group match being played here at MCC ground today.

Kerala, who opted to bat first after winning the toss, made a bad start losing their first three wickets cheaply with a score on the board 52 for three.

Captain Shreekumar Nair joined opener S Suresh both steaded their inning and kept the score board moving and yielded 88 runs for the fourth wicket before Suresh was caught by Sagun Kamat off a bowling of Robin D' Souza on 58 laced with seven four with 140 runs score on the board. At tea, Kerala were 154 for four in 60 overs. Suresh's 58 came off 169 balls and 242 minutes.

Vipin Lal, along with Captain S K Nair, further added another 45 runs for the fifth wicket before Nair was bowled by Anup Kolamakar on 65. Nair's knock, which included nine hits to the fence, came off 152 balls and 201 minutes. Next three wickets fell in quick succession adding only 19 runs to the total.

S Aneesh remained not out on 2.

Saurab Bandekar, Anil Naik, and Anup Kolamkar claimed two wickets each for Goa.

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