PANAJI
Goa’s boys and girls teams continued their impressive run at the 33rd Junior National Tennis Ball Cricket Championship in Agra on Day 3, with both squads registering wins to advance to the next stages of the tournament.
In the pre-quarterfinals, Goa edged past Purvanchal in a close contest. Batting first, Goa managed 36/4 in 6 overs, with Manikishor Singh scoring 9 and Yuvraj Malik 6. Their bowlers then held their nerves as Yuvraj Malik (6/2), Usman Karol (5/1), and Mahadev Malik (8/1) restricted Purvanchal to 32/6, giving Goa a 4-run victory.
In the quarterfinals against Odisha, Goa chased down 48/3 in just 4.5 overs. Shaunak Naik scored 18 and Yuvraj Malik 16, steering the team to a 6-wicket win and a place in the semi-finals. Goa’s bowlers also contributed, with Shaunak Naik (11/1), Yuvraj Malik (10/1), and Usman Karol (9/1) curbing Odisha’s score.
Goa’s girls team maintained their momentum in the league match against Bihar. Defending 24/3 in 6 overs, Sandhya Rai (7/1) and Tejal Gaude (7/2) delivered crucial wickets. Chasing the target, Goa finished 27 in 1.2 overs, powered by Tanaya Gaude’s 11 and Pratiksha Kerkar’s 5**, securing an 8-wicket win and progression to the quarterfinals.
With both teams advancing, Goa now looks forward to strong challenges in the boys’ semi-finals and the girls’ quarter-finals, continuing their quest for the national title.
