PANAJI
A dogged unbeaten 143 by Suyash Prabhudessai was instrumental in Goa taking home a point against Karnataka in their third round Ranji Trophy Elite Group C clash at the SDNR Wadiyar Ground in Mysore, on Monday.
Goa started the day trailing by 84 runs, and at 93-1 in 27 overs with former Karnataka batter, Siddharth KV, unbeaten on 57 (74b, 8x4, 1x6) and Suyash Prabhudessai on a solid 34 (82b, 3x4). Speedster V Vyshak continued from where he left off the previous session with a wicket for the home side. Siddharth (57) fell to the first delivery he faced, as his attempt at a drive off V Vyshak was latched on by Devdutt Padikkal at second slip. Snehal Kauthankar was next to depart trapped in front by Right arm Medium, Venkatesh M for a 36-ball 8, as the visitors slumped to 125-3 in the 41st over. With a partnership for Goa the need of the hour, a composed Suyash Prabhudessai at the top of the order found an able ally in Deepraj Gaonkar to stabilise the innings. The duo saw their side to lunch on 160-3 still adrift by 17 runs. Suyash was looking good for another century on 72 (179b, 6x4) while Deepraj stayed put on 18 (64b, x4, 1x6) as the unseparated pair raised a crucial 35 (116b).
In the second session, Goa added another 83 runs in 29 overs for the loss of Deepraj Gaonkar, who compiled a patient 36 (134b, 1x4, 1x6) to forge a significant 97-run fourth-wicket stand with a measured Suyash, who contributed 57 runs. Deepraj was outsmarted by Slow Left arm Orthodox Rohit Kumar AC and nicked one to the keeper, S Sharath but by then the middle-order batter had done his part admirably well as Goa recovered to 222-4 in the 82nd over. Goa captain, Darshan Misal on 8 (25b, 1x4) along with in-form Suyash on 124 (259b, 10x4) took their side to tea at 243-4 in 89 overs, and with a healthy lead of 66 runs.
Upon resumption, Goa added another 39 runs in 11 overs, losing two more wickets of their captain Misal 13 (31b) and Arjun Tendulkar 6 (23b), but by then had earned enough credits that a draw was inevitable. As the prospect of a result was not possible, and with both the sides taken into consideration, the match was called off by the on field umpires.
Suyash Prabhudessai registered his fourth hundred in his 29th match at the level, and in the course of his unbeaten 143 (289b, 11x4), also passed 2000 runs in First Class cricket. Keeper-batsman, Samar Dubhashi was the other unbeaten batter, and on nought when stumps were drawn.
Having secured a first innings lead, Karnataka pocked three points, while Goa took home a point. Karnataka captain, Mayank Agarwal was adjudged the Player of the Match.
Goa play their next match against Punjab in Porvorim from 26 January.
BRIEF SCORE: Goa, 1st innings. 321 in 110.1overs (Snehal Kauthankar 83; Venkatesh M 3-41, V Vyshak 3-76, Rohit Kumar A C 3-90) & 2nd innings. 282-6 in 100 overs (Suyash Prabhudessai 143*; V Vyshak 2-35, Rohit Kumar A C 2-67) vs Karnataka, 1st innings. 498-9 d in 126.4 overs Mayank Agarwal 114, S J Nikin Jose 107, Devdutt Padikkal 103; Darshan Misal 6-134, Mohit Redkar 3-119)
