Jammu And Kashmir Vs Kerala, Ranji Trophy Day 5 Highlights: Nizar, Azharuddeen Heroics Save Match, Take KER To Semis

Welcome to our live coverage of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25. Out of the four quarter-finals, three have been decided. Only Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir are still vying to decide the fourth and final semi-finalist. Follow it live here

Play is underway at the MCA Cricket Stadium in Gahunje, Pune. Umar Nazir is bowling the first over of the day with Kerala's overnight batters Sachin Baby and Akshay Chandran at the crease. A reminder that Kerala just need to bat out the day for a draw to advance, while Jammu and Kashmir need eight wickets.

As expected, Sachin Baby and Akshay Chandran are grinding it out and batting circumspectly. They have played out the first half over without the loss of any wicket, and that's all that matters as far as Kerala are concerned. Jammu and Kashmir, on the other hand, are eyeing wickets and would need at least a couple in the morning session to exert pressure.

The stonewalling continues. Ninety minutes into the first session, Kerala are yet to lose a wicket. That they have scored only 23 runs thus far is of little consequence, given how the qualification scenario stands. Jammu and Kashmir desperately need an inroad before lunch to believe they can turn this around.

Jammu and Kashmir finally have the breakthrough they sorely needed. The well-set Akshay Chandran departs for 48 off 183 balls, caught by Shubham Khajuria off Sahil Lotra's bowling. The experienced Jalaj Saxena now at the crease alongside Sachin Baby.

At the end of the morning session, Kerala are batting at 146 runs for the loss of three wickets. They still trail by 253 runs, but the important aspect is that they have seven wickets in hand. Jammu and Kashmir have two more sessions to try and prise out these seven scalps for an outright win.

The post-lunch session is underway in Pune and Jalaj Saxena, Sachin Baby have resumed batting. The second new ball is still eight overs away, and Jammu and Kashmir will surely be looking forward to the brand new cherry to find more inroads.

Well, well, well. Jammu and Kashmir have got the wicket rush they needed. Sachin Baby, Jalaj Saxena and Aditya Sarvate have all been dismissed, and Kerala are now six down. Four wickets remain, with a session and a half still to come. J&K are favourites for an outright win and semi-final berth from here on.

Salman Nizar and Mohammad Azharuddeen are defying the Jammu and Kashmir bowling attack. They have faced 74 balls for 27 runs so far in the seventh-wicket partnership. Let's see how long this resistance lasts. Still more than a session left in the match.

The seventh-wicket stand between Salman Nizar and Mohammad Azharuddeen remains unbroken at the end of the second session. Tea is taken with Kerala holding on, four wickets in hand. Jammu and Kashmir would believe they are just one breakthrough away from taking charge again.

The resistance continues. This is turning out to be a seriously good rearguard partnership between Salman Nizar and Mohammad Azharuddeen. They have compiled 60 runs but more importantly, consumed 170 deliveries in the process. The Jammu and Kashmir camp must be getting worried now.

Still no seventh wicket for the J and K bowlers. The Nizar-Azharuddeen defiance has stretched to 33 overs now, yielding 89 runs so far. They have taken Kerala promisingly close to a draw and a resultant advancement to the semi-finals, on the back of a slender one-run first-innings lead. This is going down to the wire.

The stand between Nizar and Azharuddeen is now worth more than 100 runs -111 to be precise. They have almost surely taken Kerala to safety and a consequent berth in the Ranji Trophy semis. Jammu and Kashmir need something special in the next 10 minutes or so, if they are to swing this from here.

And that's it! The seventh-wicket stand between Salman Nizar and Mohammad Azharuddeen remains unbroken at 115 runs, and Kerala have pulled off a draw which takes them to the semi-finals, courtesy a first-innings lead. Jammu and Kashmir are distraught. They were in a very good position to win outright and advance, but were thwarted by the lower-order duo.