Veteran all-rounder Jalaj Saxena has come up with yet another performance to remember, in the Ranji Trophy. The now-Kerala player produced his career-best bowling figures of 9/63 in the sixth-round match against Bengal on Sunday, to dismiss them for 180. That handed his team a healthy lead of 183 in the first innings.
The only wicket that Jalaj didn’t bag, was that of the Bengal opener Ranjot Singh, who was dismissed for six by fast bowler MD Nidheesh. Meanwhile, these are the second-best bowling figures for Kerala, in a first-class game.
The record stands in the name of Amarjith Singh, who took 9/45 against Andhra in Kannur in 1971/72. Jalaj picked up the key wickets of Abhimanyu Easwaran, Manoj Tiwary, and Anustup Majumdar. Not just that, Jalaj, prior to this, had two eight-wicket hauls for Kerala, against Services last year, and against Andhra in the 2018/19 season.
Best bowling figures for Kerala
Amarjith Singh 9/45 vs Andhra
Jalaj Saxena 9/63 vs Bengal
B Ramprakash 8/25 vs Karnataka
Jalaj Saxena 8/36 vs Services
Jalaj Saxena 8/45 vs Andhra
(Stats by Sportstar)
