Vijesh Prabhudesai (4-57) and Darshan Misal (5-70) fired Goa to a big win.
Photo Credits: The Goan
PANAJI
Fine bowling performances by right-arm medium pacer Vijesh Prabhudesai (4-57) and slow left-arm orthodox Darshan Misal (5-70), backed by superlative efforts in the field, ensured Goa won by a thumping innings and four runs against hosts Services in their sixth round Ranji Trophy Elite 'C' Group fixture at the Air Force Complex ground in Palam, New Delhi on Friday.
Services started the final day at 139/2, still 169 runs behind and with right-handed opener Ravi Chauhan on 68* (99b, 9x4, 1x6) in the company of Rahul Singh Gahlaut on 10, looking to take the fight to the opposition and stave off defeat. But Vijesh, in his comeback game, continued to shine into another day. He scalped Gahlout (16), taken by Snehal Kauthankar at first slip, as the hosts slipped to 146-3 and were up against the tide.
As Chauhan built on his innings with composure and tenacity but a big partnership which was a need of the hour was not forthcoming. The home team captain Rajat Paliwal tried to salvage the situation with the well-settled Chauhan but could not deliver on the promise. Paliwal departed for 29, taken by Ishaan Gadekar at short leg off Darshan Misal, who made an entry to the wickets column as the fourth-wicket stand between Chauhan and Paliwal ended on 55 runs (102b).
LS Kumar, who came in next, looked to play his shots but did not last too long either and on a 26-ball 21 was snuffed behind by the keeper Kerkar off left-arm medium-fast Arjun Tendulkar. Services slumped further to 233-5 at the end of 68 overs and the visitors' sniff at victory only grew stronger. Lunch was taken with the hosts on 251-5 in 72 overs, still trailing by 57 runs with Chauhan holding fort on 120 (185b, 12x4, 2x6) and Pulkit Narang, who was the lone silver lining in the first innings collapse, yet to open his account.
Upon resumption, as Narang was kept quiet, Chauhan pushed the score along. Narang's struggle eventually ended for 3, in a sixth-wicket stand of 38 with Chauhan when he was cleaned up by Misal, who did himself a favour by swapping ends to the far end. At 271-6 in the 84th over, Misal looked to hasten his side to an early finish. Mohit Rathee and Poonam Poonia did not trouble the scorers as Misal continued to weave his magic, and in these dismissals, Manthan Khutkar had a say with his catching. The Rathee dismissal particularly stood out with Khutkar taking a stupendous one-handed catch, low and clean at short leg. The ninth wicket was down at 274 with Misal ending up with a five-for, scalping the centurion Chauhan for a well-made 139 (238b, 14x4, 2x6), smartly taken by Suyash in the covers.
Last man Diwesh Pathania (20*, 12b, 2x4, 1x6) dealt a few lusty blows, and almost averted an innings defeat for his side, only for Vijesh to prove too good for Arpit Guleria (10) who was undone by a bouncer and holed out to Suyash at fine leg to end the Services' last-pair bravura at a 22-ball 30 runs association and an innings culmination at 304.
With an outright win and a bonus point, Goa climbed to the fifth position with 18 points in their group.
SCORES: Services 1st inns 175 in 59.2 overs (Pulkit Narang 52, Vijesh Prabhudesai 3-39); Goa 1st inns 483/9 d in 155.2 overs (Eknath Kerkar 156*, Manthan Khutkar 82, Pulkit Narang 4-141); Services 2nd inns 304 in 91 overs (Ravi Chauhan 139, Darshan Misal 5-70, Vijesh Prabhudesai 4-57); Goa won by an innings and 4 runs
