PANAJI
In a wickets-laden day where eighteen wickets fell across three innings, Bengal were in total command at 4/0 at draw of stumps needing just another 75 runs to register a comprehensive win in the Cooch Behar Trophy U-19 (2017-18) Round V Group C clash at JU Second Campus, Salt Lake, Kolkata on Monday.
Starting Day 2 on 57/2, Bengal were rocked early on with both overnight batsmen, Sourav Paul (29) and Sayan Kumar Biswas (23) dismissed in quick succession for an addition of only four runs to get Goa back into the contest. At another stage, Bengal was reeling at 89/7 much akin to Goa's first essay and much to do.
It required a tenth wicket 23-run stand between Suraj Singh Jaiswal 13 (32b, 2x4) and Souvik Paul 11* (30b, 2x4) for Bengal to progress from 135/9 for a first innings lead of 12 runs until Jaiswal became the seventh victim of Ruthvik Naik. Bengal was eventually all out for 158 inside 61 overs.
Ruthvik emerged the wrecker-in-chief for Goa with 7/43.
Goa in their second visit at the crease came up with spineless performance to fold up for 90 inside 43rd over. Saiesh Kamat batting at 7, with 22 (59b, 3x4) was their top scorer. Bengal in their second dig saw off the two overs in the day to be 4 for no loss with their openers, Sourav Paul and Ranjot Singh Kharia, both on 2, at the crease.
Speaking to the Goan at the end of Day 2, Goa U-19 Coach Prashant Kakode stated that six of his players were not in good shape to take to field but given the circumstances had no alternative.
"Captain Heramb Parab, Yash Porob, Alam Khan, Saiesh Kamat, Tunish Sawkar and Shubham Tari fell ill after probably drinking contaminated water at the team hotel. Alam Khan (scored 15) had retired and then returned to bat while Shubham was persuaded to go to bat at No 11 and hold his end up while Saiesh went for the runs. In fact, some players of the Goa Women's team staying at the same hotel were down with the same health concern," revealed Kakode.
