On-song Kerala to take on J&K ?

KOCHI: Kerala has hit the right frame of mind with a thrilling victory over Tripura and look to accelerate as it takes on Jammu & Kashmir in the fourth match of their Ranji Trophy season at the Gandhi Memorial Science College Ground in Jammu on Thursday .

The conditions in Jammu has traditionally favoured seam bowling and Kerala coach Sujith Somasunder believes his medium pacers are prepared to exploit the conditions to guide the visitors to the top of the 9team Group C. “The wicket is lively and has grass on it. Naturally the seamers should love it here, but it is important that we click as a unit,“ said Sujit.

Kerala sit fourth in the Group with 12 points and stand a chance to go top if they manage to pull out a crucial away win. For the visitors, Sandeep Warrier and left-arm spinner C.P. Shahid made the difference in the nine-wicket win over Tripura two weeks ago.

In the batting department, Sanju Samson has got going with 420 runs in five innings, including a century and a double ton. Rohan Prem played a match changing knock of 81 at Thalassery and a lot will depend on the experienced southpaw in the tough away conditions.

Kerala has the full team fit for the match and it is likely that an extra medium pacer, most probably Niyas Nizar will be used.
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Century CC reaches KTR cricket semis

DC CORRESPONDENT

KOCHI: Century CC entered the semifinal of the KTR Memorial Tournament by virtue of first innings lead in the drawn match against KCA Cricket Academy at Kakkanad here on Wednesday .

Batting first, Zanal Nazar's century and Ajay Kumar's 92-run helped Century to score 308 runs in the first innings. In reply, KCA Academy team were able to take only 135 runs and were forced to follow-on. For Century CC, Kabeer fell five wickets for 30 runs and Suhail scalped four wickets for 20. KCA, in the second innings, were struggling at 109 for five at stumps.

Brief scores: Century CC 308 for 8 in 70 overs (Zanal Nazar 134, Ajay Kumar 92) drew with KCA Academy 135 in 53.5 overs ( A. Kabeer 5/30, Suhail 4/21) & 109 for five in 60 overs (PR Amal 43, Kabeer 3/28)

TOWN CLUB CRUSHES MGD KUNDARA

Superb batting performances by Town Club cricketers earned them a huge 144-run win over MGD Kundara in the Kollam Adivision league held at D.B. College on Wednesday .

Sreekanth smashed an unbeaten 104 runs along with Arundev (70) and Majoosh (57) to propel Town Club to 300 runs in the first strike. Chasing the target, MGD Kundara were all out for just 156 runs as Govind (4/49) and Saneesh (3/27) wrecked havoc.

Brief scores: Town Club 300 for 5 in 45 overs (Sreekanth 104 not out, Arundev 70, Majoosh 57, Binoj 3/42) bt MGD Kundara 156 in 35 overs (Govind 4/49, Saneesh 3/27)

MIRAN SETS VARSITY RECORD

DC CORRESPONDENT
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Kochi: Miran Jose Sebastian of Mar Athanasius College Kothamangalam broke a 16-year-old record in high jump at the M.G. University athletics meet at Maharaja’s College ground here on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old won gold with a 2.04 m jump that eclipsed K.R. Roshan’s 2.03 m from 1997. Miran was one of the four record breakers on the second day of the meet.

Arun Baby, Alfin V.P. and Anilda Thomas also gave record breaking performances. MA College tallied an impressive 135 points take a convincing 60-point lead over nearest rivals Assumption Changanacherry in the overall title race.

Anilda bettered her own record time of 55.12 from last year with a much improved 53.53 seconds while second placed Sindhyamol C.S., who also broke the previous record, could only finish at 55.05 and Alphonsa's Nimisha Jayaprakash came third on 56.72.

Alfin also went up against his own mark of 14.37 m in men's shot put from last year and won gold with a thumping effort of 15.67 m. Arun Baby's 66.10 m in men's Javelin broke a 2005record of Naveen Narayanan that was 65.01 m.

SOUTHERN COMMAND WINS NAVY VOLLEYBALL

Reigning champions Southern Naval Command won the Navy Volleyball Championship defeating Western Naval Command 21-25, 25-23, 2325, 25-17, 15-13 in a closelyfought final here on Wednesday . This is their fourth consecutive title. “The final was a tight match and Western Naval Command gave us a good fight. The support from two service players, Jayadevan and Ratheesh was crucial for us,“ said Bijoy Babu.

SOFTBALL MEET IN DECEMBER
??The Maxo Cup all-Kerala softball tournament will be held at St Albert’s College Ground here from December 18 to 22. Entries should be submitted on December 2. For further details, contact 9037034731, 9447798151 or 9847146487.