Vishnu and Sijomon make a sensational Kerala win

At 120 for six, it looks like a curtain for Kerala. Vishnu Vinod and Sijomon Joseph, however, refused to give up.

They came on a stunning streak to keep their seventh goal down to lead Kerala to an incredible four-wicket win in their Vijay Hazare Cup one-day clash against Maharashtra in Rajkot on Saturday. Vishnu still doesn’t come out at 100 (82b, 8×4, 2×6) and Sijomon at 71 (70b, 2×4, 6×4).

Their unbroken partnership was worth 174 as Kerala overhauled Maharashtra’s 291 for eight with seven balls remaining. After the loss to Madhya Pradesh in the last match, this was a much-needed victory for Sanju Samson’s men.

It looked a long way off as Kerala slid to 35 for four. The fifth stand of 72 wicket between Samson (42, 35b, 4×4, 2×6) and Jalaj Saxena (44, 54b, 3×4, 2×6) kept the ship a little steady, but their sacking gave Maharashtra the lead once again.

Maharashtra could not have imagined that he would not get another goal in the match, as Vishnu and Sijomon put on an incredible counter-attack for Kerala. Their stunning performance overshadowed Ruturaj Gaikwad’s third hundred while running (124, 129b, 9×4, 3×6). Opener CSK has scored 136 against Madhya Pradesh and 154 did not come out against Chhattisgargh to set up a win for his team.

Apart from Ruturaj, only one Maharashtra mix entered this match – Rahul Tripathi, who made 99 (108b, 11×4). They came together at 22 for two, as Kerala pacers Basil Thampi and MD Nidheesh confirmed the team’s management decision for the first pitch.

But Kerala had to wait more than 34 overs to get one more goal, as Ruturaj and Tripathi added 195. The breakthrough was made by Nidheesh, who followed Tripathi’s goal by three more goals to finish with five for 49 of 10 overs. What he started was completed in style by Vishnu and Sijomon.