PANAJI
Replying to Kerala's first innings score of 260, Goa replied strongly at 133 for no loss in 58 overs at stumps on Day 2 in the Cooch Behar Trophy U-19 (2017-18) Round V11 Group C clash against Goa at GCA Academy Ground, Porvorim on Wednesday.
Resuming on the overnight score of 180/6, Kerala lost lower-order obdurate batsman, Abhijit K for no additional run. Meanwhile, his partner, Krishna Prasad found an able ally in number 9, Vinil TS (16, 79b, 1x6) to forge a meaningful 76-run stand for the eighth wicket. Krishna Prasad was the last man to fall for a well-made 94 (210b, 14x4) and the visiting team were all out for 260 in 130.1 overs.
In the Goa attack, off-spinner Rahul Mehta had the best returns of 3/25.
Much like the opposition's batting, Goa adopted a similar cautious approach. The openers, stumper Aditya Suryawanshi 70 (177b, 10x4, 2x6) and Manthan Khutkar 59 (172b, 9x4) saw off the day with an unbroken first-wicket stand of 133 runs in 58 overs. Kerala employed as many as seven bowlers into the attack without any luck.
Speaking to the Goan at the end of Day 2, Goa U-19 Coach Prashant Kakode revealed he was satisfied with the performance of his side. "Our openers did well to apply themselves and stay unconquered for a 133-run stand. Our first aim on Day 3 is to secure the first innings lead and then press for an outright win. The wicket is flat but anything can happen in the game of cricket," Kakode revealed.
Meanwhile, U-19 right-arm-medium-pacer, Ruthvik Naik who recently received a call-up to the Senior T-20 squad, has promised The Goan he will take a 5-fer when his side bowls in the second innings. Incidentally, Ruthvik was the only Goa bowler not to pick up a wicket in the
Kerala first innings.
