Mattakandathil dinesan nidheesh

Mattakandathil Dinesan Nidheesh: Danish Malewar and Karun Nair batted for a majority of Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy final against Kerala and helped former champions Vidarbha get to 254/4 at stumps at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha here on Wednesday. After winning the toss and electing to field first, in their first-ever appearance in the final of India's premier domestic tournament, Kerala struck early with the ball.

On just the second ball of the day, Mattakandathil Dinesan Nidheesh struck the pads of Parth Rekhade which sent the fielding side into ecstasy. Skipper Sachin Baby decided to review umpire Jayaraman Madanagopal's decision which fell in Kerala's favour.

The early strike saw lower-order batter Darshan Nalkande come out to crease at number 3, in a change of strategy for the batting side. However, the move did not prove fruitful as Nalkande departed after scoring one run in 21 deliveries. Nidheesh took his second scalp of the day with a short delivery, bowled outside off, which prompted a pull shot by Nalkande straight to the fielder strategically placed at deep mid-wicket.