Thiruvananthapuram: Odisha let Kerala off the hook on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match at the Greenfield International Stadium here on Sunday.
Asked to bat first after Odisha skipper Subhranshu Senapati won the toss, Kerala stumbled to 18/3 and then 101/5, but ended the day on 245/6 thanks to a 141-run partnership between experienced Sachin Baby (112) and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammed Azharuddeen (72 batting).
New-ball bowlers Lalit Yadav (2/29) and Rajesh Mohanty (1/51) triggered the early collapse, before 22-year-old debutant Soumya Lenka bagged two wickets including the prized scalp of Baby.
It was 37-year-old Baby’s 16th century in his 109th first-class match.
BRIEF SCORES
Kerala first innings: 245/6 (Sachin Baby 112, Mohammed Azharuddeen 72*; Lalit Yadav 2/29, Soumya Lenka 2/41).
Odisha to bat.
Match to continue on Day 2.