Double barrel guns of Kerala

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It was a perfect day for Sanju Viswanath and Akshay Chandran, who crafted a brilliant fourth wicket stand of 341 runs in the match against Madhya Pradesh in the Cooch Behar under-19 Trophy, played in Bhopal. Though the match ended without results, it gave new hopes to Kerala cricket as two new stars were born — Sanju, who hit a beautiful double century and Akshay, who knocked his maiden century.

Sanju scored 218 runs in the match and it was his second double century. He had slammed another double century against Goa last year in the Vijay Merchant under-16 Trophy. Meanwhile, Akshay scored his first century and that too an unbeaten one (114 not out).

Hailing from Thalassery, Akshay started his career five years ago. Handpicked from a cricket camp in Thalassery, he soon proved he had the technique and agility to be in the team. He has played in the under-13, under-16 and under-19 Kerala teams.

Last season, this left arm bowler got an 11-wicket-haul and this season he has already got three. His last year’s score of 92 against Vidharbha in the eighth-wicket partnership literally helped the team to enter the Elite Group of the Cooch Behar Trophy. He has also scored an unbeaten 55 and 40 against Delhi in the Cooch Behar match, which Kerala won.

“The partnership was one of the best I have played. We both are good friends and this helped us to create a good rapport at the crease as well. At the end of the day, it was great fun batting together,” said the all-rounder, who admires Rahul Dravid’s batting style.

Meanwhile Sanju is happy that he found his form. “This season I was out of form. But the partnership with Akshay helped me to come back to form,” said the right handed batsman.

“During the initial stage of the season, I struggled a little bit. But I am back on track. As the match ended without any result, we are a little disappointed. Though we enjoyed the batting and helped to make a huge score of 515 runs, we were not able to take the first innings lead,” said Sanju, who also dons the role of wicket keeper in the team.

He has also played two Ranji Matches this season. “Now we have to concentrate on the match against Jharkhand and win it to proceed in the tournament,” he says.