KOLKATA: Finding it difficult to get a foothold in the Ranji Trophy Elite campaign in the first two games of Group B, Bihar displayed an improved show to grab three points from the drawn fourth game against Kerala at Moin-ul Haq Stadium in Patna on Monday.
By virtue of the 150-run first innings lead, the Ashutosh Aman-led side — who started off with an innings loss to heavyweights Mumbai, got their first three points of the season.
In the second match they had managed a draw and a point against Chhattisgarh, while the weather-affected drawn third game against Uttar Pradesh fetched another point following unfinished first innings of UP after Bihar had scored 260.
In reply to the visitors’ 227 in the first essay, Bihar had posted 377 to secure three important points from the encounter.
Already conceding a big first-innings lead, Kerala’s second innings was bolstered by a fine unbeaten ton from Sachin Baby who scored 109 off 146 balls with 14 fours.
Baby’s 85-run stand with Akshay Chandran (38 off 87 balls) for the third wicket helped Kerala reach 220 for four in 61 overs and take a 70-run lead. But the match ended in a draw. Baby was overnight unbeaten on six while Chandran was batting on two.
Conceding that no other result was possible except for a draw, both captains decided to shake hands three overs post tea. Aman took two wickets for 26 runs.
With three draws and a loss, Bihar now have five points from four games and are in seventh spot on the eight-team Group B roster. Kerala match them on every count but are a rung above due to better quotient. Bihar next take on Andhra at the same venue while Kerala travel to Raipur to take on Chhattisgarh.
