Riding on half-centuries by lower order batsmen -- Rohan Prem (51), Raiphi Gomez (76) and KS Monish (75) -- Kerala took a slender 46-run first innings lead over Jharkhand on the penultimate day of their Ranji Trophy Group C cricket match here today.
Replying to Jharkhand's first innings total of 337 all out, Kerala scored 383 all out in their first essay.
At stumps on day three, Jharkhand were on 68 for one with Shabaz Nadeem unbeaten on 39 and giving him company at the other end was Virat Singh on six.
Resuming on 179 for five, overnight batsmen Prem, who started the day on 35 and Gomez, who resumed on 3, played with a lot of responsibility to make sure Kerala did not concede the first innings lead.
The duo shared a 68-run partnership for the sixth wicket to consolidate the innings before Prem got out. His knock came off 116 balls, studded with seven fours and a six.
Gomez then coupled with Monish to put on 77 runs together for the seventh wicket and take the team past 300-run mark.
Gomez took 173 deliveries for his 76 that included nine boundaries and a six, while Monish's 75 was scored in 160 balls and with the help of seven fours and two sixes.
For Jharkhand, RP Singh (4/74) and Nadeem (4/83) were the pick of the bowlers.
Brief scores:
Jharkhand: 337 & 68 for one in 23 overs (Shabaz Nadeem batting 39).
Kerala: 383 all out in 132.1 overs (Rohan Prem 51, Raiphi Gomez 76, KS Monish 75; RP Singh 4/74, Nadeem 4/83).
