Kochi: A brilliant bowling performance by spinner Sreekumar Nair (5 for 66) helped Kerala to defeat Madhya Pradesh by 68 runs in the Ranji trophy plate division semi- finals at Jawaharlal Nehru International stadium on the penultimate day. The win also helped Kerala to qualify into one 'elite group'. In the finals Kerala will take on the winners of Karnataka versus Vidarbha match to be played later. Resuming at its overnight score of 126 for 5, Madhya Pradesh batsmen found the going tough, as Sreekumar Nair was able to get some assistance from the pitch. Madhya Pradesh lost wickets at regular intervals and were all out for 161, 30 minutes after lunch. Madhya Pradesh captain Amay Khurasia top scored with a masterly 77 runs, which included 7 hits to the fence and a six. Brief scores: Kerala 156 and 185 beat Madhya Pradesh 112 and 161 (A Khurasia 77, B Tomar 28, Sreekumar Nair 5 for 66, Tinu Yohannan 3 for 24).

Tags: cricket, ranji trophy, plate division, sreekumar nair, madhya pradesh, jawaharlal nehru stadium, vidarbha, captain amay khurasia, b tomar, sreekumar nair, tinu yohannan.