Vijay Hazare Trophy: Kerala slump to an embarrassing loss

KOCHI: After notching up their highest-ever List A score two days ago against Maharashtra, the same set of Kerala batters, barring Sanju Samson, slumped to their second lowest total in the quarterfinals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Rajasthan at SCA Stadium ground C in Rajkot on Monday.
The insipid batting display saw Kerala making just 67 for the loss of nine wickets in their chase of 268.Injured Vishnu Vinod was retired hurt after facing a ball as Kerala crashed out of the tournament after an impressive campaign.
Only two players managed to cross double figures with the experienced Sachin Baby top-scoring with 28 and stand-in-skipper Rohan Kunnummal making 11.
In the absence of regular skipper Sanju Samson, who has flown to South Africa to join the Indian ODI squad, the rest of the batters offered a meek surrender.
Left-arm seamer Aniket Chaudhary took four for 26, his seam bowling partner Arafat Khan grabbed 3 for 20 while India discard Khaleel Ahmed claimed 2 for 15 to bundle out Kerala in 21 overs.
Earlier, southpaw Mahipal Lomror's unbeaten 122 was the highlight of Rajasthan's total of 267 for 8 in 50 overs. After losing four wickets for 108, Rajasthan were put on the road to a decent total by Lomor. He stitched together a 116-run stand for the fifth wicket with Kunal Singh Rathore. Kunam struck seven fours and two fours in his 66. Lomor hit six fours and as many sixes in his 114-ball knock.
Brief scores: Rajasthan 267/ 8 in 50 overs (Mahipal Lomror 122*, Kunal Singh Rathore 66; Akhin 3/62) beat Kerala 67/9 in 21 overs (Sachin Baby 28, Vishnu Vinod (retired hurt 0, did not return to bat; Aniket Chaudhary 4/26, Arafat Khan 3/20)