Sachin Baby stepped into his familiar role as crisis man with aplomb, scoring his 16th First Class century to rescue Kerala on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy match against Odisha at the Sports Hub Greenfield Stadium here on Sunday.

After being put in, Kerala was off to a disastrous start at 18 for three but Sachin turned the saviour with a masterful knock (112, 235b, 11x4, 1x6). Mohammed Azharuddeen made a timely return to form (72 batting, 135b, 6x4) and his 141-run alliance with Sachin for the sixth wicket helped Kerala recover from 101 for five to end the first day at 245 for six.

Earlier, Odisha medium-pacers Rajesh Mohanty and Lalit Yadav made optimum use of the seamer-friendly conditions and had Kerala on the mat at the end of the first hour.

Abhishek P. Nair, the centurion from the first match, drove loosely at a delivery from Rajesh and was caught at point by Soumya Lenka for a duck.

The promoted Jalaj Saxena lasted only six balls as Lalit squared him up and had him caught in the slips. Abhishek J. Nair (11) was caught behind by Sandeep Dhuper off Lalit to leave Kerala tottering at 18 for three.

The recovery began when Sachin added 40 runs for the fourth wicket with captain Vishnu Vinod (21) who was caught behind off debutant Lenka. Sachin and Salman Nizar defied the Odisha attack to add 43 for the fifth wicket.

Salman (21) was dismissed playing back to Badal Biswal soon after the lunch break.

Azharuddeen had an early stroke of fortune when Shantanu Mishra dropped him in the slips when he was on five. He made Odisha pay dearly for the miss with a watchful knock.

But the second new ball gave Odisha the much-needed breakthrough as Sachin was caught down the leg-side off Lenka.

The scores: Kerala — 1st innings: Abhishek P. Nair c Lenka b Rajesh 0, Abhishek J. Nair c Dhuper b Lalit 11, Jalaj Saxena c Pattnaik b Lalit 0, Sachin Baby c Dhuper b Lenka 112, Vishnu Vinod c Dhuper b Lenka 21, Salman Nizar lbw b Badal 21, Mohammed Azharuddeen (batting) 72, Aditya Sarvate (batting) 3; Extras: (1b-4, w-1): 5; Total (for six wkts. in 85 overs): 245.

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-3, 3-18, 4-58, 5-101, 6-242.

Odisha bowling: Rajesh 14-5-51-1, Lalit 14-2-29-2, Lenka11-2-41-2, Badal 22-5-52-1, Ninad 17-3-45-0, Shantanu 7-0-23-0.

Toss: Odisha.