Goa gained three points courtesy their first innings lead, while Services got a point from the drawn encounter at the Airforce ground at Palam. Needing 184 runs to win, Goa were 128/4 in 50 overs when bad light cut short the final day's play
Panaji
Goa had to settle for a draw after bad light stopped play with the visitors needing 56 runs to win in 18 overs against Services in Ranji Trophy Group D match in Delhi on Sunday.
Goa gained three points courtesy their first innings lead, while Services got a point from the drawn encounter at the Airforce ground at Palam. Needing 184 runs to win, Goa were 128/4 in 50 overs with captain Sagun Kamat not out on 57 runs and Amogh Desai at the other end on 17 runs, when bad light cut short the final
day's play.
Earlier, left-arm spinner Darshan Misal added another five wickets to his tally to take his total haul to seven in return for 68 runs as Services were bowled out for 190 runs in 55.4 overs. The hosts had resumed batting from their overnight position of 108/3.
Having earned a seven-run lead in the first innings, Goa required 184 runs to win their first match of the season. However, they failed to get off to a solid start when Sawpnil Asnodkar became the first man to be dismissed on 15 runs.
Fellow opener Sumiran Amonkar followed after having made 22 runs and Goa's score reading 72.
Sagun looked determined to play a captain's knock but saw wickets falling regularly at the other end as a promoted Keenan Vaz (10) and Darshan Misal (0) departed at the same total of 86. Amogh proved to be the right partner for Sagun as Goa seemed to be on course for a victory. However, the light dimmed earlier than it did on the previous day and Goa were left stranded in their chase for victory.
Goa, who had two points from three matches, now take their tally to five from four and will face Vidarbha at home. Coach Prakash Mayekar praised Sagun for his well-planned knock, but was left cursing the fate as bad light had prevented his boys from securing a
morale-boosting win.
SCORES
Services 263 (VU Yadav 84; Amogh Desai 3-18) & 190 (Ravi Chauhan 55; Darshan Misal 7-68) drew with Goa 270 (Keenan 70; Sachidanand Pandey 5-61) & 128/4 (Sagun Kamat 57*; Diwesh Pathania 3-37).
