BASIL SYLVESTER PINTO
PANAJI
In the first edition of the IndusInd Nagesh National Cricket Tournament for the Blind 2018 day league stage of which are underway at 12 centres across the country, the inaugural match in the State took place between hosts Goa and Rajasthan at GCA Academy Ground, Porvorim on Wednesday.
In the aforesaid T-20 format match, Goa captain Yeshwant Nageshkar on winning the toss had no hesitation in putting in the opposition to bat. Rajasthan were in all sorts of trouble from the outset with the home team fielders closing in on the batsmen like vultures on their prey. The bowlers were quite disciplined as well with the jingle ball ensuring to pitch the ball by mid-pitch before rolling it across into good areas. But it was as many as six run-outs that reasoned out the hastened collapse of the visitors to folding their innings for 63 in 9.4 overs. The B1 category brothers in opener, Irfan Ali (16) and Islam Ali (21) who came in at four, were the only batsmen to reach double figures in the otherwise abysmal performance with the willow. The few present when cricket history was made at the ground would bring imagery to the glorious moment in the eight over. In that particular over itself there may have been three run-outs casting further gloom on the Rajasthan camp, but the second of them illuminated the brightest in the Goa hutch. Mirgal fielding at point in a co-balanced action swooped down on to the ball and swiftly aimed it on to at stumps that found the rival captain Islam (B1) batting well on 21 out of his crease and the State from the most humid climes face the inferno at 56/6 mid way in the eighth over. In the Goa attack, B2 bowler, Sandesh Ghode snapped 2/14.
Replying to the paltry total, Goa never really was flustered. They may have lost their first two wickets for 10 in the second over, but opener Nilesh Mirgal (B3) who was striking the ball with intelligent yet innovative stroke play while finding the gaps found an able partner in wicket-keeper, Rahul Damor to let the early joy Rajasthan had turn to frustration not too long after. With Mirgal, Damor (B2) who stayed unbeaten on a well-crafted 16 (19b, 1x4) to be there at the end, had forged a 41-run third wicket partnership that totally changed the course of the match in their favour. Ironically, Mirgal a fantastic fielder that he proved to be in the first half of the match became the plagued second run-out victim in the chase and the eight and last in the match for an individual score of 21 (31b). An otherwise quick judge of a run or two, Mirgal committed hara-kiri when he needlessly attempted a tight second run on a misfield to be the third batsman out.
The hosts cantered home for an early lunch with seven wickets in hand and 62 balls to spare.
Nilesh Mirgal (B3) who was outstanding in the field with his accurate arm and ability to gauge and knock down the stumps down at will, and was credited with three run-out victims, apart from an invaluable 21 was rightfully adjudged the Player of the Match. Goa in their Group D had earlier played two matches in Punjab with contrasting results. Against Pondicherry they won easily by eight wickets, while in the other they lost by a similar result against Punjab. Meanwhile in the second game, Karnataka defeated Odisha by eight wickets.
On Thursday, Goa lock horns with Odisha at 9 am while Rajasthan will play Karnataka at 1 pm.
