Gujarat won the match by 90 runs as Kerala was bowled out for 177.
After a draw against Delhi in their opening match of the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2019-20 and a defeat in the second match against Bengal, Kerala is in a good situation in their third match against Gujarat at Lalabhai Contractor Stadium in Surat thanks to superb batting by Sanju Samson.
As Kerala needed 268 runs, they lost their top three with just 66 runs on the board and that is when the wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson walked out to bat and joined right-hander Robin Uthappa at the crease.
Even after Uthappa was dismissed, Samson kept batting and scored a superb half-century and also brought Kerala back into the game. Sanju had scored a 78 in just 82 deliveries which included 8 boundaries and a maximum. However, his wicket meant the end of Kerala's hopes of winning the match, as Akshar Patel's 4/50 wrapped up their innings on 177 and Gujarat won the match by 90 runs.
The 25-year-old was picked in the Indian squad for the recently concluded Bangladesh and West Indies series but failed to make it to the Indian playing XI. Samson is selected for the upcoming Sri Lanka series. Thus, it will be interesting to see if he finally gets into the XI following his Ranji knock.