The Kerala Ranji cricket team scripted history by entering the semi-finals for the first time in its cricketing history, after hammering Gujarat by 113 runs here on Thursday.
In a low scoring match and against a strong Gujarat side led by Parthiv Patel and featuring ace cricketers like Axar Patel and Piyush Chawla, it was the seam attack of Kerala led by IPL star Basil Thampi and Sandeep Warrier that did the job for them.
Setting a meagre target of 194, Thampi and Warrier skittled out Gujarat for a paltry 81 runs.
Thampi won the man of the match award for nine wickets in the match and a crucial contribution of 37 runs in the first innings.
“I am extremely delighted with what I did for my state with both bat and ball,” said Thampi after the match.
An elated Kerala skipper Sachin Baby said they have created history by entering the semi-finals for the first time.