Despite a fine 66 by Hemant Kumar, Kerala struggled on a batting track to reach 207 for seven on the opening day of their four-day Elite Group Ranji Trophy match against Baroda at the IPCL ground here in Vadodara on Monday.

At stumps, Deepak C M (23) and Suresh Kumar (16) were at the crease.

Electing to bat, the Kerala openers played some good shots to take the team to 50 as the visitors looked set for a big total.

But they lost some quick wickets before opener M P Sorab (33) and middle order batsman Hemant Kumar came to the team's rescue. They took the score to 88 before the former was dismissed.

Hemant Kumar and Ajay Kunda added 43 runs for the sixth wicket before latter's departure. Kumar and  Deepak C M added 49 runs for the seventh wicket.

Tushar Arothe and Rakesh Patel claimed three wickets each.

Scoreboard

Kerala (1st innings):
S Samsundar lbw Shekhar Joshi 17
Sorab M P c S Parab b R Patel 33
Anantpadmanabhan KN c N Mongia b I Pathan (SR) 3
H Kumar c N Mongia b R Patel 66
S Oasis b T Arothe 11
S Nair c N Mongia b T Arothe 4
A Kunda c J Martin b T Arothe 14
Deepak CM not out 23
S Kumar not out 16

Extras: (b-4, lb-4, nb-12) 20

Total: (for 7 wkts, 90 overs) 207

Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-52, 3-63, 4-84, 5-88, 6-131, 7-180

Bowling: Rakesh Patel 26-9-68-2. Irfan Pathan (Sr) 17-10-28-1, Shekhar Joshi 16-1-35-1, Tushar Arothe 22-7-48-3, Rajesh Pawar 5-2-14-0, Rakesh Solanki 4-1-6-0.