the goan I network
PANAJI
Andhra seem set for an early finish on Day 4 after posting a mammoth total of 483 runs in 134.4 overs in their first innings, and having Goa totter at 24/5 in 21.5 overs when stumps were drawn on Day 3, with the home side still 232 runs in arrears in the Cooch Behar Trophy U-19 (2018-19) Round IV Elite Group C match at Margao Cricket Club on Wednesday.
Resuming at 228/1, a run ahead the home team, Andhra put on a huge 483 built on contributions through their first essay. The overnight batsman, Yara Sandeep was soon to depart on his overnight score 74 (170b, 7x4) run out by Ketan Nandrekar at point. Captain and opener Vamsi Krishna, who retired ill with only a single to his name on Day 2 and did not get a chance to bat till the end of day’s play, returned to the crease in place of Sandeep who had replaced him at the wicket the previous day.
Vamsi played well to make 60 (120b, 8x4, 1x6), as Tuesday’s hero K Nithish Kumar Reddy, stayed a while to make 155 (252b, 19x4, 4x6). From 276/3, Goa picked up their next two wickets in quick succession at 320 and 322 with Subramanyam (6), a rare batsman failure and Vamsi (60) getting dismissed. At this juncture, the Andhra wicket-keeper, Prudhvi came to the fore to make a well-compiled 65 (118b, 8x4) and along with M Dheeraj Kumar with a belligerent 65 (53b, 2x4, 5x6) raised a sixth-wicket 115-run stand in good time. For Goa, chinaman bowler Shadab Khan picked up 3/80.
A psychologically drained Goa colts suffered the first blow when opener, Yash Porob got back in the pavilion for no score. It was a steady procession that followed until the umpires called time for the day with Goa tottering at 24/5 in 21.5 overs and only 109 minutes time at the wicket.
Dismissed batsman and stumper, Piyush Yadav was the only Goa player reaching double digits (12). Goa’s first innings saving grace, Alam Khan who struck a delightful 96 is yet to bat in the second dig as he is plagued with a knee injury.
