Ranji Trophy 2025 final, live score and updates: Two-time winners Vidarbha take on first-time finalists Kerala

Kerala skipper Sachin Baby falls two runs short of a century, in his 100th first-class match! He picks out the lone man on the leg side boundary.

Kerala still trail by 55 runs.

Captain Sachin Baby has taken up the onus now, closing in on his fifty

Aditya Sarwate and Ahammed Imran led the Kerala fightback, adding 93 after they were 14-2.

Imran (37) eventually hit Yash Thakur to mid-wicket, but Sarwate (66*) and captain Sachin Baby (7*) took Kerala to 131-3 at stumps.

Darshan Nalkande 2-22
Yash Thakur 1-45

Darshan Nalkande strikes with his fifth ball, yorking Rohan Kunnummal.

Akshay Chandran hits three fours off Yash Thakur at the other end, but Nalkande bowls another yorker to clean up Aditya Sarwate.

Kerala 16-2, Nalkande 2-2

Vidarbha could add only six to their score at lunch before Nidheesh had Nachiket Bhute (32) caught behind.

MD Nidheesh 3-61, Eden Apple Tom 3-102, N Basil 2-60, Jalaj Saxena 1-72

Vidarbha slipped from 290-4 to 297-7, then from 333-7 to 335-9, but Harsh Dubey (10*) and Nachiket Bhute (28*) took them to 373-9 by stumps.

MD Nidheesh 2-58, Eden Apple Tom 3-102, N Basil 2-60, Jalaj Saxena 1-72

Jalaj Saxena gets a wicket. A touch too full, and Akshay Karnewar (12) drives hard, but Rohan Kunnummal takes an excellent low catch at cover.

The next ball hits Harsh Dubey on the pad. Kerala go upstairs, but it missing, and they lose a review.

333-8.

Vidarbha began the day on 254-4. They added another 36 before N Basil bowled Danish Malewar. Not only is Malewar’s 153 his career best but it is also the best for a Vidarbha batter in a final.

Basil then trapped Yash Thakur LBW for 25, while Eden Apple Tom, coming round the wicket, had Yash Rathod caught at slip. From 290-4, Vidarbha slipped to 297-7.

Nidheesh 2-49, Eden 2-85, Basil 2-47

Nair is run out for 86! Kerala claimed the new ball. Nair pushed the ball, there was a misfield, and he set off.

There was no run in it, Malewar turned down the run, and Rohan Kunnummal's throw found Nair short of the crease.

Yash Thakur is the new batter. Vidarbha 239-4, Malewar is still there on 132.

Malewar’s hundred (he is 113 now) has helped Vidarbha recover from 24-3 to 182-3. Keeping Malewar company is Karun Nair (50).

MD Nidheesh (2-27) and Eden Apple Tom (1-53) have shared the wickets.

Malewar (75) and Nair (37) have steadied the ship by adding over a hundred. Vidarbha are 131-3 now.

Nidheesh (2-19) and Eden (1-53) have shared the wickets.

Vidarbha braved the initial storm to go to lunch at 81-3. At the crease are Danish Malewar (38) and Karun Nair (24), having put on 57 after Vidarbha were 24-3.

Nidheesh (2-11) and Eden (1-39) have shared the wickets.

Just a hint of away movement after pitching, and Dhruv Shorey can't help but edge. 

Vidarbha 24-3, Karun Nair in now.

After Kerala opted to field, MD Nidheesh struck early, trapping Parth Rekhade leg-before with his second ball.

Vidarbha promoted Darshan Nalkande to one-drop, but Nidheesh bounced, and Nalkande hooked straight to deep square leg.

Kerala 18-2 (8), Nidheesh 4-4-0-2

Top run-scorer:
Salman Nizar - 8 matches, 607 runs @ 86.71, 2 100s, 3 50s, HS 150

Top wicket-taker: 
Jalaj Saxena - 9 matches, 38 wickets @ 18.97, 5 5-fors, BBI 6-41

Top run-scorer:
Yash Rathod - 9 matches, 933 runs @ 58.31, 5 100s, 3 50s, HS 151

Top wicket-taker: 
Harsh Dubey - 9 matches, 66 wickets @ 16.42, 7 5-fors, BBI 3-36