Agencies
Mumbai
Prashant Chopra missed a double hundred by six runs while Sumeet Verma scored 160 to put Himachal Pradesh in the driver's seat against Goa on the third day of their Group C Ranji Trophy match at the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai on Friday.
At stumps, Goa in their second innings were trailing Himachal by 49 runs and were 99 for 2 in reply to their opponent's mammoth first innings total of 528 runs. Himachal took a 148-run lead in the bargain.
Himachal who resumed at their overnight score of 254 for 2 continued to motor along and upped their scoring pace to finish at 528 all out in under 100 overs. They scored their runs at 5.42 per over before being all out in 97.2 overs.
Chopra who made an impressive 194 struck 23 sixes and 7 fours in his 170-ball knock while Verma kept pace with a solid 160 off 235 balls studded with 20 fours.
Rituraj Singh claimed 3 dor 89 for Goa while Saurab Bandekar,Shadab Jakati and AG Pandrekar claimed 2 wickets each. Darshan Misal took 1 wicket.
In their second innings, Goa lost their captain and first innings centurion Sagun Kamat cheaply as he made just 6 runs while Snehal Kauthankar also perished fo 17. Sumiran Amonkar (54*) and Darshan Misal (19*) steered Goa from 53 for 2 to a score of 99 in 35 overs when stumps were drawn for the day. Goa will now have to fight it out on the final day to keep Himachal at bay.
