Roosh Kalaria gets a hat-trick

: Left-arm fast bowler Roosh Kalaria starred with a hat-trick leaving Gujarat needing 195 runs to beat Kerala and seal a Ranji Trophy semifinal berth at the end of the second day of the quarterfinal here Wednesday.

Gujarat hit back to restrict the host to 171 in the second innings after conceding the first innings lead.

A disciplined bowling effort helped Gujarat bowl out Kerala for 171 in 59 overs with Kalaria (3 for 36) and Axar Patel (3 for 40) sharing the spoils.

Earlier, resuming at 97 for 4, Gujarat quickly slipped to 107 for 7 before some aggressive batting by Kalaria (36, 5X4, 1X6) enabled the team make 162 in reply to the home side's first innings score of 185.

Sandeep Warrier (4 for 42) was Kerala's best bowler and he was well supported by M D Nideesh (3 for 38) and Basil Thampi (3 for 61).

Skipper Parthiv Patel was the top-scorer for Gujarat with 43.

In Kerala's second innings, opener Mohammed Azharudeen fell for a duck in the second over and the team lost wickets at regular intervals before Sijomon Joseph (56) and the experienced Jalaj Saxena (44 not out) put on a 53 runs for the sixth wicket.

Kalaria then took over, claiming the wickets of Joseph and Thampi with the fifth and sixth balls of the 52nd over before returning to claim the scalp of Nidheesh with the first ball of the 54th over to leave Kerala in disarray.

An injured Sanju Samson, who retired hurt in the first innings after sustaining a finger injury, came out to bat at No.11 and survived 11 balls before being LBW to Axar Patel.

Gujarat requires 195 runs to win the match after the second day saw 16 wickets fall.

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) vs Gujarat 162 all out (Parthiv Patel 43, R Kalaria 36, Sandeep Warrier 4 for 42, M D Nidheesh 3 for 38, Basil Thampi 3 for 61).