Opting to bat, Kerala enjoyed a decent start with openers Jagadeesh and debutant Mohammed Azharuddeen, who made 31, adding 57 before former Kerala seamer Prasanth Parameswaran trapped Azharuddeen lbw. But, the visitors slumped from 139 for 2 to 147 for 5 in the space of five overs, with off-spinner Amit Yadav accounting for Jagadeesh and captain Sanju Samson
PANAJI
Half centuries from opener V A Jagdeesh and Robert Fernandez helped Kerala put up a respectable 224/5 on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Group C cricket match against Goa here on Monday.
Opting to bat, Kerala started well as they put on 57 runs for the first wicket before Mohammed Azaruddeen became Prasanth Parmeswaran's first victim as he was trapped leg before wicket for 31. Rohan Prem, who joined Jagdeesh, did not last long as he was cleaned-bowled by Shadab Jakati for 20.
Parmeswaran got his second wicket as he cleaned-bowled Sachin Baby for 20 with the score at 139. Amit Yadav then took two quick wickets to get rid of Sanju Samson (1) and well-set Jagdeesh (61) to put Kerala under pressure with the score at 147. But Akshay Kadoth (28) and Robert (51) stitched 77 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket to take Kerala to 224/5 when the stumps were drawn.
For Goa, Prasanth Parmeswaran and Amit Yadav claimed two wickets each while Shadab Jakati took one wicket.
BRIEF SCORES
Kerala 224 for 5 (Jagadeesh 61, Fernandez 51*) v Goa
