CK Nayudu trophy: Goa in dire straits, visitors sense an early finish

Chhattisgarh were on a threshold of an early finish after taking a massive 175 runs first innings lead, and then having the hosts Goa on the ropes at 180-6 on the third day of the fourth round fixture of the Col CK Nayudu Trophy against hosts Goa in Porvorim on Tuesday.   

Resuming on 336-7, Chhattisgarh added another 46 runs in the morning session to stretch their lead to 175 runs. Centurion, Sanjeet Desai added another nine runs to his overnight score until his dismissal for 128 ( 244b, 10x4, 3x6). The visitors were all out for 382 in 121.4 overs. 

In reply, Goa were struggling at 180-6 in 66 overs in their second essay  and only five runs in front when stumps were drawn. Middle-order batsman Yogesh Kauthankar was on 33 (108b, 2x4) and Kaushal Hattangadi, yet to open his account. Goa began their second innings disastrously losing opener, Yash Porob for no score. Regular opener, Vaibhav Govekar did not walk out to bat due to illness. Shunted up the order, makeshift opener Deep Kasvankar made a quickfire 40 (29b, 8x4). Other batsmen in captain, Kashyap Bakle (28) and keeper-batsman, Vasu Tiwari (33) got starts but could not cash in.  Lower-order batsman, Heramb Parab made 30. In the Chhattisgarh attack, Right arm Medium SK Chadda and Right arm Offbreak Deepak Singh claimed two wickets each. 

Goa came agonizingly close to taking three points as their first innings score of 159 (74.2 ov) fell 2 runs shy of Pondicherry's score in the first round fixture of the U-14 Boys South Zone Inter-State tournament at KCA Cricket Ground-2, Thodupuzha on Tuesday. 

Goa resumed at 77-2, saw opener Afridsab Var made a fighting 77 (219b, 13x4) but he barely found any support from the other end. With Goa's eighth wicket having fallen at 155, and another seven runs needed to secure the vital first innings lead Var had to take a tactical call. Off the last delivery of an over, he drove the ball straight to mid-off region and took off for a quick single but a direct hit by R Jiveteshan found him inches short at the non-striker's end. With Var's dismissal at 159 and three runs for the first innings lead, last batter, Swayam Mashelkar played out a maiden  which brought number 10, Arnav Patil back on strike. Patil fell to the guiles of R Jivetshan with no runs added to the total two deliveries later. Meanwhile, in their second innings Pondicherry were 66-3 in 17 overs with PK Vinayak blazing to 41 off just 24 deliveries with eight boundaries and a sixer. Goa Right-arm medium Rehan Kekar picked all the three wickets to fall while conceding 23 runs. Goa had to settle for a point, while Pondicherry took three on the basis of their first innings lead.