Gaikwad hit 124 off 129, following scores of 136 and 154* in the first two games, but apart from Rahul Tripathi‘s 99 off 108, no other Maharashtra batter made more than 20. Those two innings powered the team to a sizeable 291 for 8, with pacer MD Nidheesh taking 5 for 49. Maharashtra had the match seemingly sewn up, with Kerala 35 for 4 in the 11th over, but Sanju Samson – batting at No.6 – and Jalaj Saxena dug them out of that hole with a 72-run stand in just 11.1 overs. Although both fell in quick succession to leave Kerala at 120 for 6, Vishnu Vinod then got together with Sijomon Joseph for a stunning, unbeaten 174-run stand in just 141 balls. Vinod hit a century off just 82 balls while Joseph was unbeaten on 70 off 71, as victory was achieved with 1.1 overs remaining.
Ruturaj Gaikwad smashes third successive ton, Prerak Mankad steps up with bat and ball
