PANAJI
A fifth-wicket 153-run partnership between middle-order batters Sanjeet Desai (119 not out) and captain Gagandeep Singh (76) put Chhattisgarh in a very strong position on the second day of the fourth-round fixture of the Col CK Nayudu Trophy against hosts Goa in Porvorim on Monday.
Resuming on 45/1, Goa tasted early success when Prateek Yadav (17) was caught and bowled by left-arm slow orthodox Keith Pinto as the visitors added only another 20 runs to their overnight score. The slow bowler got into the act with his third wicket of the innings when he trapped Harsh Sharma (16) in front as Chhattisgarh were reduced to 95-3. The other overnight batsman, Sanidhya Hurkat made a patient 67 before falling to leg-break bowler Yogesh Kauthankar in the 48th over as Chhattisgarh slipped to 128-4.
Sanjeet Desai on 13 (50b) was joined by his captain, Gagandeep Singh and together the pair forged a monumental 153-run stand in 254 deliveries for the fifth wicket to put Chhattisgarh on top. While Gagandeep became Keith's fourth victim, the visitors were in a strong position to control the game at 281-5. But the hosts pulled back with another two wickets before close of play as Chhattisgarh went to stumps at 336-7 with a healthy 129-run lead. Sanjeet on 119 (224b, 9x4, 3x6) and Deepak Singh on 9 were at the crease.
SCORES: Goa 1st inns 207 in 63.4 ov (Vaibhav Govekar 69, Ashish Chouhan 7-68) vs Chhattisgarh 1st inns 336-7 in 107 ov (Sanjeet Desai 119*, Gagandeep Singh 76, Keith Pinto 4-85). Chhattisgarh lead by 129 runs
Pondicherry fold for 161, Goa 77-2 in reply
Right-arm medium pacer Atharva Devidas' 4-31 spearheaded Goa's attack as Pondicherry folded at 161 in their first innings in the first-round fixture of the U-14 Boys South Zone Inter-State tournament at KCA Cricket Ground -2, Thodupuzha on Monday.
Asked to bat first, Pondicherry were bundled out for 161 in 57.4 overs. S Hari Prasath top-scored with 68 while V Rohith (34) and P Hari Prasath (22) were the other batsmen to make a contribution. In the Goa attack, Atharva Devidas impressed with 4-31. At stumps, Goa were 77-2 in 32 overs With Afridsab Var on 38 with Rehan Kerkar yet to open his account.
