Manish Pandey celebrates his fifth double century in his milestone 100th First Class match.
Photo Credits: Basil Sylvester Pinto
PANAJI
Manish Pandey's swashbuckling fifth First Class double century put Karnataka in a commanding position on the second day of the third-round Ranji Trophy Elite Group C clash against Goa at the Academy ground in Porvorim on Wednesday.
Resuming from their overnight score of 294-3, the Karnataka batting pair of a young Vishal Onat on 73 and the experienced Manish Pandey on 8, played out the initial new ball spell by the Goa pace duo of Lakshay Garg and Arjun Tendulkar without much fuss. Manish Pandey was even beaten a couple of times early on, but save for these instances, he dictated terms to the opposition attack through the course of the day. The introduction of spin provided Pandey an opportunity to launch an onslaught, from where there was no looking back.
19-year-old Onat, in only his third Ranji who looked set for a well-deserved century, succumbed tamely on 91 (211b, 11x4) nicking to Amogh Desai at slip off slow left arm orthodox bowler and Goa captain, Darshan Misal. The Onat-Pandey fourth wicket stand took the score to 351 at the end of 104 overs realising 67 runs between them. Despite the loss of Onat, Karnataka keeper-batsman B R Sharath who came in next, looked to play with intent, and struck two early boundaries. Samarth made a 35-ball 29 when he perished at 408-5 out plumb to part-time off spinner, Siddhesh Lad.
Karnataka went to lunch at a healthy 441-5 in 123 overs with Pandey on song at 91* (116b, 7x4, 4x6) and K Gowtham on 15. Pandey wasted no time to move to yet another First Class century, his 22nd, post-lunch, when he stroked a delivery gently to the covers off Lad for two runs. His 100 came in 120 deliveries with seven boundaries and five maximums, while spending 169 minutes at the crease. Pandey's only chance offered came on an exact 100 when a Felix Alemao bouncer was audaciously hooked over to deep fine leg with substitute fielder Deepraj Gaonkar spilling the opportunity and letting the ball sail over the ropes.
Meanwhile, his partner, K Gowtham, could not last much longer falling to a soft return catch off Misal for 16. Karnataka moved to 480-6 in the 128th over with Pandey on 124* (130b, 8x4, 7x6) looking to pile on the misery further for the home side toiling under the sun on a flat deck.
Pandey had moved up another gear when his next 50 came even quicker. He acknowledged his 150 (153b, 224m, 10x4, 8x6) when he nudged the ball for a single off Misal.
At tea, Karnataka were an imposing 576-6 in 146 overs. Pandey was leading the charge unbeaten on 188 (178b, 12x4, 10x6) with Shubhang Hegde on 32* (61b, 3x4, 1x6).
If his first century came pretty quick, the second came at an accelerated rate. He fiercely pulled Goa pacer, Felix Alemao to the mid-wicket boundary shortly after lunch to reach his fifth First Class double century in only 183 deliveries. His second 100 came in a mere 63 balls. In an emotionally charged moment for Pandey, the young batter, Hegde at the other end met him mid pitch to appreciate the milestone.
Pandey celebrated the double century by replicating the same shot to the boundary in the very next ball he faced. Pandey's 297-minute vigil at the crease witnessed him unconquered on 208 while facing 186 deliveries, and thriving on 14 boundaries and 11 massive hits over the ropes against a hapless Goa attack.
Karnataka declared 13 minutes after tea, with Hegde nicking one behind to Kerkar off left arm pacer, Arjun Tendulkar after playing his part with 39 (67b, 3x4, 2x6) and Jharkhand at 603-7 in the 149th over. The Pandey-Hegde stand realised 123 runs in as many deliveries, and that came in 108 minutes with Pandey the senior batter in the stand, contributing 84.
In reply, Goa lost opener Amogh Desai early, beaten by pace for 5 off fast bowler, Ronit More. The other opener, Sumiran Amonkar 30* (77b, 6x4) who started positively with a few delectable boundaries; survived a few anxious moments too. Amonkar in the company of a sedate Suyash Prabhudesai 6* (38b) withstood the testing times, as stumps were called on Day 2 with Goa at a tentative 45-1 in 23 overs, still requiring another 409 runs to avoid follow on.
SCORES: Karnataka 603-7 d in 148.2 overs (Manish Pandey 208*, R Samarth 140, Vishal Onat 91, Darshan Misal 3-145) vs Goa 45-1 in 23 overs (Sumiran Amonkar 30*, Ronit More 1-10)
