PANAJI
Goa began their campaign in the Siechem Trophy 2026 on a winning note, defeating Pondicherry by six wickets in the Under-19 Inter-State One-Day Tournament at the Siechem CAP Ground 2 in Pondicherry on Tuesday.
After opting to bat first, Pondicherry posted a competitive total of 277 in 47.4 overs. Goa responded with a composed batting performance, chasing down the target with four wickets down in 49.4 overs to seal an impressive victory.
For Pondicherry, R. Jiviteshan top-scored with 71 off 64 balls, while Donavan Wilson made 54. Haaris Maraicar contributed 45, captain P. Shailesh Vaithianathan scored 31, and Ankit Singh provided late momentum with a quickfire 25 off just 11 deliveries. However, Goa's bowlers struck at regular intervals to prevent the hosts from building any major partnerships.
Govind Sawal was the standout performer with the ball for Goa, claiming four wickets for 55 runs in 9.4 overs. Mihir Kudalkar delivered an economical spell of 10 overs, conceding just 49 runs while taking one wicket. Shaunak M. Teli, Mohit Yadav, Jai Kanguri and skipper Afridsab also chipped in with a wicket each.
Chasing 278, Goa lost Aaditya Kota for 17, but Vinith Kamat and captain Afrid steadied the innings with a crucial 102-run partnership for the second wicket. Kamat compiled a patient 56 off 93 balls, while Afridsab Rajakkanvar added 52 from 89 deliveries to lay the foundation for the chase.
The momentum shifted decisively in Goa's favour when Mohit Yadav smashed a blistering 59 off just 36 balls, including four fours and four sixes. Aradhya Goyal then remained unbeaten on 67 to guide the team home in style, while Mihir Kudalkar provided valuable support with an unbeaten 16 as Goa finished on 279 for four.
For Pondicherry, Haaris Maraicar claimed two wickets, while Rubankartik B.S. and Shikhar Sharma picked up one wicket each. Govind Sawal's outstanding bowling, coupled with fluent knocks from Aradhya Goyal and Mohit Yadav, proved instrumental in Goa's comprehensive six-wicket victory.
