In a high-octane Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite Group A clash at ADSA Railways Cricket Ground, Ahmedabad, Sanju Samson delivered a stellar knock on his domestic
return, anchoring Kerala's emphatic 8-wicket victory over Jharkhand with a stylish 101 off 95 balls.
Chasing a daunting 312, Kerala romped home in just 42.3 overs and won the match by 8 wickets.
Jharkhand's innings was a tale of resilience led by Kushagra's unbeaten 143 off 137 (8x4, 7x6), a marathon effort that rescued them from early wobbles. Openers Shikhar Mohan (13) and Utkarsh Singh (6) fell cheaply to Eden Apple Tom and MD Nidheesh, while Virat Singh (15) and Ishan Kishan (21) couldn't stabilize. Anukul Roy's gritty 72 provided momentum, but Nidheesh's masterful 4/46 in 10 overs-his best in limited-overs cricket-triggered a late collapse, restricting Jharkhand to 311/7.
Rohan Kunnummal, Kerala's skipper, unleashed fireworks with 124 off 78 (8x4, 11x6), his highest List A score, bludgeoning Jharkhand's attack in a 212-run stand with Samson. The duo toyed with bowlers, racing to 212 before Kunnummal holed out. Samson, elegance personified, fell soon after for 101, which was decorated with 9 fours and 3 sixes. Baba Aparajith (41*) and Vishnu Vinod (40* with 3x4, 2x6) sealed the deal unbeaten.
The win has propelled Kerala to 3rd in the Group A points table, as they have leapfrogged Jharkhand to claim the spot. Samson, with his stellar knock, made a strong bid for the upcoming ODI squad selection against New Zealand, but the Kerala batter wasn't picked for the upcoming 5-match series. He is part of the T20I squad and is also in the squad for the T20 World Cup.
