Jalaj Saxena achieves unique milestone in Ranji Trophy 2024-25

Published - 31 Jan 2025, 06:01 PM | Updated - 31 Jan 2025, 11:38 PM

Jalaj Saxena
Jalaj Saxena (Image Credits: X)

Kerala allrounder Jalaj Saxena was in fine form during the side's Ranji Trophy match against Bihar at the Sports Hub International Cricket stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Saxena broke records as he grabbed two-wicket hauls on Day 2 of the match.

It was a fine effort from the veteran cricketer who has loads of experience in the Ranji Trophy and has been at the forefront of his team's success. With this performance, Saxena helped Kerala win the match by a massive margin of an innings and 169 runs and book a place in the quarter-final.

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Jalaj Saxena achieves unique milestone in Ranji Trophy

After impressing in the first innings, Jalaj Saxena showed his consistency in the second innings as well. The offspinning allrounder picked up 5-19 in 7.1 overs in the first innings. He helped Kerala to clean up Bihar's middle order with his experience and skills.

Jalaj Saxena's five-wicket haul in the first innings was his 33rd five-wicket haul in first-class cricket in 146 matches. However, it was his first five-wicket haul against Bihar, making them the 19th opposition against whom he has picked up five wickets in an innings.

The offspinner has now created a new record to have five-wicket hauls against the most no. of teams in the history of Ranji Trophy. He has been playing in the tournament for the last two decades and has established himself as a stalwart of Indian domestic cricket.

Saxena was equally dominating in the second innings too as he didn't allow the Bihar's batters to relax. He finished with 5-34 in 11.1 overs as they folded up for yet another below-par score. Overall, he picked up 10 wickets in the match.

Jalaj Saxena's first-class career

Jalaj Saxena has had a stellar first-class career with 147 first-class matches. He has scored 6880 runs at an average of 33.56 with 14 hundreds and 33 fifties to his name. He has the experience of batting as an opener and also as a lower-order batter.

Saxena has been excellent with the ball as well. He has picked in 477 wickets at an average of 24.99 with 34 five-wicket hauls. The Kerala star is the seventh highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy. He has the ability to bowl with the new hardball as well as the old ball.

Kerala through to quarter-finals

Kerala put on a show and registered a thumping win on their home ground. Kerala batted first and scored 351 runs in the first innings. Salman Nizar scored a brilliant 150 off 236 balls with 15 fours and 2 sixes and took his team to a great first-innings total.

In reply, Bihar were bowled out for a meager 64 runs in their first innings. Just three batters reached the double-digit mark while the wicketkeeper Sharman Nigrodh top-scored with 21 off 47 balls.

Jalaj Saxena picked up five wickets while MD Nidheesh finished with 2-23. Vaisakh Chandran and Aditya Sarwate picked up a wicket each. Kerala enforced a follow-on as Bihar's batting line-up folded in the second innings as well.

Sakibul Gani top-scored with 31 and skipper Veer Pratap Singh scored 30 but the other batters failed to make an impact once again. In a slightly better show than the first innings, Bihar folded up for 118, thus ending their season with a big loss.

Apart from the offspinner Jalaj Saxena, left-arm spinner Aditya Sarwate finished 3-27 in 12 overs. MD Nidheesh and Vaisakh Chandran picked up a wicket each. The win gave Kerala seven points as they won by an innings.

Tagged:

India National Cricket Team Jalaj Saxena Kerala Kerala vs Bihar Bihar Ranji Trophy
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