PANAJI
A responsible captain's knock by Darshan Misal (89, 110b, 12x4, 1x6) and a belligerent innings by lower-order batsman, Mohit Redkar (80, 91b, 8x4, 4x6) rescued hosts Goa from a precarious position to forge an entertaining 124-run eight-wicket association in 152 deliveries to help prop Goa to a decent 309-9 in 83 overs in the seventh round Ranji Trophy Elite Group C clash against Gujarat at the Goa Cricket Association Academy in Porvorim, on Friday.
Put in to bat, Goa were in early trouble with opener Amogh Desai (4) in a moment of brain fade found himself short of his crease with Manan Hingrajia's direct throw from gully finding its target. On an easy-paced track, it was the frontline pace trio of Gujarat captain Chintan Gaja, Priyajitsinh Jadeja and Arzan Nagwaswala, who frustrated the Goa batters with their nagging line and length off the deck, into making mistakes. Southpaw, Manthan Khutkar who has accumulated just 54 from six previous innings this season, let another opportunity go abegging making only 19 this time with a well-judged diving catch by the keeper Het Patel off pacer Priyajitsinh Jadeja leading to his dismissal. K V Siddharth (12), who looked in good touch with three well-timed boundaries, failed to read the length of a Gaja delivery to nick one behind as Goa were reduced to 61-3. Seasoned batter, Snehal Kauthankar could only make 3, when he misjudged the length of a Gaja delivery to be cleaned up in the pacer's ensuing over. Goa went to lunch in trouble at 67-4 with in-form Suyash Prabhudessai battling on 28 and Deepaj Gaonkar yet to get off the mark.
Left Medium Fast Arzan Nagwaswala claimed star batter Suyash on 28, leg before and the hosts quickly lost Deepraj as well for 4 taken behind by Het Patel off Jadeja, as the hosts were left to stare down the barrel at 72-6, merely two overs post lunch. As the afternoon wore on, it required captain and allrounder Darshan Misal to rise to the occasion and anchor significant partnerships with lower-order batters to ensure the Goa innings stayed afloat. On an otherwise placid wicket where the top order failed, Misal played a well-paced knock while blunting the pace battery and motivating his younger partners at the other end. For the seventh-wicket with southpaw Arjun Tendulkar (45), he stitched a vital 89-run in 114 deliveries where he was the more dominant batsman with 43 runs coming off his bat at almost a run-a-ball. Arjun who was shaping well, in a lapse of concentration was trapped leg before to an innocuous Ravi Bishnoi delivery.The leggie Bishnoi was largely ineffective and could not settle into any rhythm through his short spells that came from both ends. Meanwhile, new man Mohit Redkar played a typical knock fraught with risk, but it was his day. By tea, the hosts had moved to 192-7 with Darshan on a run-a-ball 54 and Mohit on a stroke-filled 19.
Against the run of play, Goa lost their principal run-getters in quick succession. Darshan who looked on course for his fifth Ranji hundred, and on 89, tamely nicked one to Priyank Panchal at first slip off Slow Left Arm Orthodox Siddharth Desai. The slow bowler who toiled all afternoon yielded another late reward claiming Mohit for 80 taken by Manan Hingrajia for a well-judged catch at the long on boundary. Incidentally, only the previous over, Mohit had whacked India international Ravi Bishnoi high and handsome for a maximum onto the Academy roof.
Lakshay Garg and Heramb Parab, both on 5, saw Goa through to close at play at 309-9 in 83 overs.
BRIEF SCORE: Goa, 1st innings. 309-9 in 83 overs ( Darshan Misal 89, Mohit Redkar 80; Siddharth Desai 2-47, Chintan Gaja 2-56, Priyajitsinh Jadeja 2-58) vs Gujarat
