Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy campaign is back on track after it crushed Kerala by an innings and 164 runs at the KCA stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.
Right-arm off-spinner Mohsin Khan’s maiden five-wicket haul (six for 29) inflicted a demoralising defeat on the host after pacer Vidwath Keverappa struck telling blows with the new ball in the morning.
Mohsin’s nagging accuracy and subtle variations of length proved to be more than a handful for Kerala batters on a wicket of variable bounce. Last man Eden Apple Tom (39 not out off 68 balls), who batted with an injured finger, and debutant M.U. Harikrishnan (6 off 94 balls) delayed Karnataka’s victory as the 10th wicket stand consumed nearly 23 overs and added 44 runs.
Kaverappa’s double strike in his first over set the template for the win. The makeshift opener M.D. Nidheesh (9) edged to Karun Nair in the slips. Akshay Chandran departed for a golden duck, bowled off an inswinger, as Kerala slipped to 19 for two.
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Mohammed Azharuddeen (15) started positively, pulling Kaverappa over the square leg for a six, and followed it up with a fluent cover drive for a boundary. But he failed to ride the bounce from Shikar Shetty’s delivery and was snapped up by wicket-keeper Krishnan Shrijith.
Opener Krishna Prasad and Ahammed Imran put on a 57-run stand for the fourth wicket, a brief period which raised hopes of a Kerala fightback. However, Mohsin dismissed both Prasad (33) and Imran (23) in quick succession to leave Kerala tottering at 106 for five.
B. Aparajith and Sachin Baby played the spinners with caution, but Mohsin ended the partnership before it prospered.
Mohsin bowled Baby (12) with a quicker delivery as the batter tried to play a square cut off the backfoot. Another quicker delivery breached Shoun Roger’s defence to leave Kerala on the brink. However, the plucky show by the tailenders delayed the inevitable in the extended post-lunch session.
The scores
Karnataka — 1st innings: 586 for five decl.
Kerala — 1st innings: 238.
Kerala — 2nd innings: Krishna Prasad b Mohsin 33, M.D. Nidheesh c Karun b Kaverappa 9, Akshay Chandran b Kaverappa 0, Mohammed Azharuddeen c Shrijith b Shikhar 15, Ahammed Imran c&b Mohsin 23, B. Aparajith lbw b Mohsin 19, Sachin Baby b Mohsin 12, Shoun Roger b Mohsin 0, Hari Krishnan lbw b Mohsin 6, Vaisakh Chandran c Karun b Shreyas 4, Eden Apple Tom (con sub) (not out) 39; Extras: (b-12, lb-12): 24, Total (in 79.3 overs): 184.
Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-19, 3-40, 4-97, 5-106, 6-130, 7-130, 8-135, 9-140.
Karnataka bowling: Kaverappa 13-4-28-2 Vyshak 10-3-27-0, Shikhar 13-2-32-1 Shreyas 20-7-44-1, Mohsin 23.3-14-29-6.
Pom: Karun Nair.
Published on Nov 04, 2025