Kerala makes history, enters maiden Ranji semi final
Wayanad (Kerala), Jan 17: Scripting history, Kerala stormed into the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy for the first time with a 113-run win over Gujarat on the third day of their quarterfinal match here Thursday.
This is the first time that the Kerala team has entered the last four stage of the prestigious domestic cricket tournament in over six decades.
In the 2017-'18 season, the state made its maiden entry into the quarterfinal, but lost to Vidarbha.
In the semifinal, Kerala will take on the winner of the Vidarbha-Uttarakhand match.
Requiring 195 for a win, Gujarat was shot out for 81 in 31.3 overs as Basil Thampi (5 for 27) and Sandeep Warrier (4 for 30) wrecked the strong rival batting line-up.
A jubilant Kerala captain Sachin Baby said he believed the team can do well in the semifinal.
"We lost to Vidarbha last time, but I believe we can turn up better and beat them this time," he added.
On the match against Gujarat, he said scoring 185 in the first innings was crucial.
"Scoring 185 was a big total on this wicket and that proved to be important," Baby said looking forward to the side's first ever semifinal.
Kerala coach Dav Whatmore, who helped Sri Lanka win the 50-overs World Cup in 1996, said he was delighted with the team's performance.
He lauded the performance of the players, especially the bowlers and all-rounder Jalaj Saxena.
Thampi and Warrier did a fantastic job, he added.
Earlier, Gujarat got off to a shaky start losing opener Kathan D Patel and Priyank Panchal in the sixth over itself.
Patel was bowled by Thampi, who then struck a big blow in the last ball of the same over, trapping the prolific Panchal (3) to leave the visitors tottering at 10 for 2.
Left-hander Rahul Shah was the lone batsman to offer resistance with a fighting knock of 33 not out (70 balls, 4X4).
Gujarat skipper Parthiv Patel, probably the biggest threat for Kerala, was run out for a duck due to a brilliant piece of fielding by his opposite number (Sachin Baby) with a direct hit from mid-on.
Dhruv Raval (17) was the only Gujarat batsman other than Shah to get into double figures as the visiting side struggled on a pitch that offered varied bounce.
The fifth-wicket partnership of 39 between Shah and Raval was the highest of the Gujarat second innings as the rest of the batting line-up failed to negotiate the impressive Thampi and Warrier.
Thampi, who was named man of the match, and Warrier finished with a match haul of eight wickets each.
Brief scores: Kerala 185 and 171 all out (Sijomon Joseph 56, Jalaj Saxena 44 not out, Roosh Kalaria 3 for 36, Axar Patel 3 for 40)
Gujarat 162 all out (Parthiv Patel 43, Roosh Kalaria 36, Sandeep Warrier 4 for 42, M D Nidheesh 3 for 38, Basil Thampi 3 for 61) and 81 all out in 31.3 overs (Rahul Shah 33 not out, Basil Thampi 5 for 27, Sandeep Warrier 4 for 30).
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Mumbai court clerk caught by ACB taking Rs 15L; additional sessions judge named in FIR
Mumbai: A clerk at Mazgaon Civil and Session Court, Chandrakant Vasudev (40), was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday for accepting a bribe of Rs 15 lakh from a Bandra businessman for a favourable verdict in a land dispute case.
The ACB officials said on Wednesday that additional sessions judge, Aejazuddin S Kazi (55), has been named in the FIR filed in the case and shown as wanted by the Bureau.
Both Vasudev and Judge Kazi have been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The officials have added that the businessman had been asked initially to give a total of Rs 25 lakh, as Rs 15 lakh for the judge and Rs 10 lakh for the clerk. After negotiations, the amount was reduced to Rs 15 lakh.
The clerk Vasudev was produced in court and sent to judicial custody for five days.
ACB Assistant Commissioner of Police Manisha Zende has said that Kazi was booked after Vasudev confirmed the judge’s role in the graft. The clerk had called the judge when he was caught by the ACB team and informed Kazi that he had received the money, she added. The official, however, said that Kazi was yet to be arrested and remains a wanted accused.
In April 2016, the Bombay High Court had stayed the creation of third-party rights on the disputed land. As the land’s valuation was below ₹10 crore, the commercial suit was transferred to the Civil Sessions Court in Mazgaon.
On September 9, 2025, an office associate of the complainant received a call from Vasudev when he was at Court No 14 of the Civil Sessions Court, the ACB stated.
Vasudev is said to have met the complainant in suburban Chembur, where he demanded ₹25 lakh. After the complainant refused to pay the huge amount, Vasudev allegedly called him repeated to demand the bribe, which prompted the complainant to approach and file a complaint with the ACB on November 10.
As instructed by the ACB, the complainant met Vasudev on the court premises and agreed to pay ₹15 lakh. Vasudev called Judge Kazi to inform him about the payment, and the judge allegedly acknowledged the bribe, after which, the clerk was apprehended and arrested by the ACB officials.
Further investigation is underway, the official said.
