Goa take on Punjab in their third match of 2017-18 Ranji Trophy championship from Tuesday at Goa Cricket Association academy ground at Porvorim. The hosts are placed fifth while Punjab occupy second-last position in the seven-team Group D.
PANAJI
Led by Sagun Kamat, Goa have collected just two points from two drawn games. After hosting Chhattisgarh in the opener, Goa had travelled to Himachal Pradesh for the second match of the season.
After two matches, Punjab have just one point to their credit. In their last match, Vidarbha thrashed Punjab by an innings and 117 runs. Punjab's first match was against Himachal Pradesh, where they earned one point from a draw. Punjab were captained by Yuvraj Singh in their second match. He missed the first match with Jiwanjot Singh leading the side.
Yuvraj and another star international spinner, Harbhajan Singh, were not seen with the Punjab squad on the eve of the match at the Porvorim ground, prompting suggestions that the duo are not part of the visiting team.
"It would have been better if Yuvraj and Harbhajan were here. It would have fired our team to perform against their famous counterparts. Nevertheless, Punjab have a strong outfit and our boys will have to play tough cricket," said Goa coach Prakash Mayekar.
For Goa, experienced opener Swapnil Asnodkar and talented youngster Sumiran Amonkar struck a solid partnership of 299 runs in the second innings against Himachal Pradesh. With centuries under their belt in the last knock, both batsmen will be hoping to bring their good form out in the centre against a challenging line-up of Punjab bowlers led by swing bowler Sandeep Sharma, left-arm pacer Barinder Singh Sran and Manpreet Gony.
