Goa post respectable total of 228/8 on Day 1 after slow start
Snehal Kauthankar top-scored for Goa with a gritty 83.
PANAJI
28-year-old top order batter, Snehal Kauthankar celebrated his 50th First Class match with a gritty 83, his twelfth half century at the level, as Goa stayed in the contest in their third round Ranji Trophy Elite Group C clash against Karnataka at the SDNRW Ground in Mysore on Friday.
At close of play on the opening day, Goa were placed at 228-8 with Arjun Tendulkar on 10 and Heramb Parab on 6.
Electing to bat, Goa were dealt an early blow when opener Ishaan Gadekar on 6, attempted to drive the ball off Right arm Medium V Vyshak in the fourth over only to nick behind to S Sharath. One-down, K Siddarth perished for 2, as a good delivery off the other new ball bowler, Koushik V went flying into the waiting hands of S J Nikin Jose in third slip. Goa were in early trouble at 12-2 as the Karnataka new bowlers exploited the two-paced wicket where the odd delivery kept low on a slow wicket.
In form, Suyash Prabhudessai, fresh from a masterful 197 on home soil, tried to arrest the slide and made 24 (70b, 3x4) when he tried a cut shot only to be played on off
Slow Left arm Orthodox Rohit Kumar A C as the visitors were left tottering at 45-3 in the 24th over.
Meanwhile, a seasoned Kauthankar shrugging indifferent form looked in good stead as in his captain, Darshan Misal, he found an able ally to steady the innings. Kauthankar and Misal weathered the storm to stitch an 82-run (192 balls) fourth wicket stand to bring respectability to the Goa score. Misal on 39 (98b, 4x4) stepped out and was stumped by S Sharath off Rohit Kumar A C as Karnataka fought back with the visitors 127-4 in the 56th over. Middle-order batter Deepraj Gaonkar who struck his maiden Ranji hundred in his last innings did not trouble the scorers this time around. Facing his fourth delivery, Gaonkar tried to clear mid off with a lofted shot off Rohit Kumar A C only to be pouched by substitute Shashi Kumar, The visitors had lost half their side on 137-5 as tea approached. Goa went to tea on 142-5 with Kauthankar on 52 (142b, 4x4, 1x6) and keeper-batsman, Samar Dubhashi on 9 (17b, 1x4).
Kauthankar in company of Dubhashi forged a vital 50-run sixth wicket stand as Goa clawed their way back into the game. Dubhashi made 19 (38b, 3x4) when he fell at the score of 181 at the start of the 71st over cleaned up by pacer V Vyshak. Kauthankar was next to go for a well-compiled 83 (193b, 9x4, 1x6) taken by S J Nikin Jose in gully off Right arm Medium M Venkatesh. Kauthankar in the course of his 83-run knock went past 3000 runs in his 85th First Class innings.
At 196-7, it was up to the capable lower order Goa batters to put up a decent first innings total on a difficult wicket. In ArjunTendulkar and Mohit Redkar, Goa had that fighting chance. The Arjun-Redkar eighth wicket stand may have yielded only 25 runs, but it was important nonetheless. Redkar played his part with 16 (32b, 2x4) and became V Vyshak's third scalp.
For Karnataka, V Vyshak claimed 3-45 off 18 overs, while Rohit Kumar A C, in only his first season, shone with 3-66 off 23 overs.
Goa made three changes in their XI, bringing in wicketkeeper-batsman Samar Dubhashi and pacers, Felix Alemao and Heramb Parab; as the experienced duo of top order batter, Rahul Tripathi and pace bowling allrounder, Lakshay Garg as well as pacer, Vijesh Prabhudessai were relegated to the bench.
BRIEF SCORE: Goa, 1st innings. 228-8 in 87 overs (Snehal Kauthankar 83; Vijaykumar Vyshak 3-45, Rohit Kumar A C 3-66)
