PANAJI
Stung by a heavy innings and 135 runs loss at home against Baroda in their opening fixture, Goa came back as a much stronger unit against the formidable Uttar Pradesh in their second round Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match against hosts Uttar Pradesh at Green Park Stadium, Kanpur on Sunday.
At stumps on Day 1, Goa were comfortably placed at 43 for no loss after 12 overs in their first essay, trailing Uttar Pradesh by 159 runs. Wicket-keeper Shivendra Bhujbal in only his second First Class game was batting on a stroke-filled 31 (39b, 6x4), while his opening partner, Suyash Prabhudessai was on a watchful 12 (33b, 1x4).
Earlier, opting to bat first, Uttar Pradesh managed to post 202, largely due to late innings heroics of middle-order batter Rinku Singh and a determined debutant, Vansh batting at number 11. Southpaw batter Rinku who came in at 5, battling against the tide struck a valiant unbeaten 118 (186b, 11x4, 2x6), his 11th First Class century. Incidentally, it was the 29-year-old’s second successive hundred at the level having notched 112 versus Bihar in Rajgir last season.
In Vansh, proving no mug with the bat, he forged a tenth-wicket stand of 65 (105b), incidentally the highest partnership of the innings. While Vansh was the last man out for a defiant 26-ball 4, he played an integral part in the innings as Rinku went hell for leather in his company to take the total beyond 200, from a wobbly 137-9. Rinku apart, the only other substantial contribution from the home side came from opener Madhav Kaushik who compiled a patient 45 (96b, 5x4).
While lanky Goa pacer Ruthvik dealt two early blows, his teammate, Right arm Offbreak, Yash Kasvankar in only his second game at the level, scythed through the middle and late-order of Uttar Pradesh for his first 5-for.
Goa effected two changes from their last match bringing in young allrounder, Yash Kasvankar and Slow Left arm Orthodox, Amulya Pandrekar for middle-order batter, Deepraj Gaonkar and Right arm Offbreak, Mohit Redkar.
BRIEF SCORES
Uttar Pradesh, 1st innings: 202 in 71 overs (Rinku Singh 118*, Madhav Kaushik 45, Yash Kasvankar 5-86, Ruthvik Naik 2-37); Goa, 1st innings: 43-0 in 12 overs (Shivendra Bhujbal 31*)
Goa trail Uttar Pradesh by 159 runs with 10 wickets remaining
