Suyash Prabhudessai celebrates his maiden 200.
Photo Credits: Basil Sylvester Pinto
PANAJI
A sixth-wicket partnership of 221 runs (374b, 310m) between one-down Suyash Prabhudessai (212 runs, 416b, 705m, 29x4) and Ranji debutant and professional player, Arjun Tendulkar (120 runs, 207b, 310m, 16x4, 2x6) propelled Goa to a position of strength in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C clash against Rajasthan at the Academy ground in Porvorim on Wednesday.
At the end of the second day's play, Goa were 493-8 in 163.2 overs. The overnight pair of Suyash and nightwatchman Arjun applied themselves on a placid wicket to wrest back control in the match. Suyash, who started cautiously on day one, played as per the situation of the game and gradually began to bring out his array of strokes as his innings progressed. Batting on an overnight 81, the 25-year-old batter brought up his second First Class ton with an exquisite cut to the square boundary off fast bowler Kamlesh Nagarkoti in 244 deliveries with the help of 13 boundaries.
Meanwhile, Arjun, who resumed on 4, battled it out in the initial half hour and also offered a chance on 18. From thereon, his confidence grew and he began to unleash his shots as well. Arjun brought up his fifty hoisting slow left-arm bowler Shubham Sharma for a maximum over long off. Goa went to lunch without losing a wicket in the session at 320-5, in 117 overs, with Suyash on 128 and Arjun on 67 both looking comfortable at the wicket.
Arjun who looked anxious in the latter half of his nineties, emulated his legendary father Sachin Tendulkar with a century on Ranji debut when an overthrow helped him steal a single off pacer Aniket Choudhary. The 23-year-old thus became only the second Goa cricketer after opener Sumiran Amonkar to register a century on Ranji debut. Arjun reached 100 in 178 deliveries with the help of 12 hits to the ropes and two sixes.
Arjun moved to Goa this season from Mumbai, after turning out in two T20s for his former side. The left-arm pace bowling all-rounder's stint with Goa began on an encouraging note with good performances with the ball in the 2022 Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy one-dayers.
The marathon sixth-wicket stand was finally broken at 422 when Rajasthan quickie Nagarkoti had Arjun caught and bowled on 120 in the 144th over. Suyash went on to convert his three-digit score into a maiden double-hundred when he struck pacer Aniket Choudhary to the square leg region for an exquisite boundary. Suyash's chanceless 200 came in 395 balls, laced with 28 boundaries in 664 minutes at the crease.
He thus became only the seventh Goa cricketer to score a Ranji double hundred. The elegant southpaw Sagun Kamat holds the State record with the highest First Class score with an unbeaten 304 scored against Services in Cuttack in the 2016/17 season.
Against the run of play, the visitors pegged Goa back with a double strike. Goa captain Darshan Misal (33) and Suyash (212) departed in a space of three balls with Rajasthan wicketkeeper K S Rathore in the act in both instances. At the draw of stumps, Goa were reduced to 493-8 with debutant Mohit Redkar at the crease on nought.
