Ishaan stars as Goa down Kerala for famous Ranji win

The Goa squad pose after their win over Kerala on Friday.

Photo Credits: The Goan

PANAJI
Ishaan Gadekar backed his first innings century (105), with an unbeaten 67 in Goa's second essay on a spicy pitch to anchor his side over the line for a memorable seven-wicket win against Kerala in their Elite Group C fourth-round fixture at St Xavier's KCA Cricket Ground in Trivandrum on Friday.

Gadekar became the first Goan batter to not only score a century and fifty on Ranji debut, but win the Man of the Match award as well. The 25-year-old southpaw made a mature unbeaten 67 (136b, 4x4, 1x6) and with seasoned professional Siddhesh Lad (33*, 50b, 4x4, 1x6) took Goa over the line with an unbroken 68-run association for the fourth wicket by tea.

Above: Opener Ishaan Gadekar (105 & 67*) and Mohit Redkar (6-73. 

Kerala, starting the final day at 172-6, lost their last four wickets in a tumble as only 28 runs were added to their overnight total. Right-arm offbreak bowler Mohit Redkar, in only his fourth Ranji game, picked up three of the wickets to fall, for best returns of 6-73 in his nascent career. Redkar first trapped seasoned all-rounder Jalaj Saxena in front for 34 (59b, 3x4) and then cleaned up Rohan Prem for 70 (138b, 5x4) and Basil Thampi (0) off successive balls. But NP Basil deprived the 22-year-old a hat-trick and even had a bit of fun, slogging Redkar for two sixes, before Goa captain Darshan Misal wrapped up Kerala's second inning at 200, claiming Vaisakh Chandran (3).

Setting the visitors a fourth-innings target of 155, the home side knew their only hope rested on their potent four-pronged spin attack on a pitch that offered considerable turn to the slow bowlers. Top wicket-taker this season, the 130-First Class games veteran Jalaj Saxena (31 wickets until the first innings) along with his captain Sijomon Joseph, opened the attack with their spin.

Goa openers Amogh Desai and Ishaan Gadekar started positively, scoring at a fairly quick clip, but the introduction of off-spinner Vaisakh in the ninth over applied brakes on the inning. He trapped Amogh in front for a quickfire 23 (27b, 1x4, 1x6) with the team score of 36. Suyash Prabhudesai failed yet again in an away innings, falling for 14 to Kerala captain, the slow-left arm orthodox bowler Joseph.

Goa went to lunch at 68-2 in 23 overs with opener Gadekar settling in on 24 (61b, 1x4) with Snehal Kauthankar for company on 6 (22b). Saxena grabbed his 32nd wicket of the season, getting Kauthankar out leg-before for a laborious 13. At 89-3, Siddhesh Lad joined Gadekar and countered the challenge of a wearing wicket and took Goa home in the 49th over.

With the six points from the outright win, Goa climb a rung to the fifth spot among eight teams in their group. They will look for an encore in their next round match against bottom-placed Puducherry in Porvorim from January 10-13 to move up further on the table.

SCORES: KERALA 1st inns 265 in 95.3 ov (Rohan Prem 112, Lakshay Garg 4-44); GOA 1st inns 311 in 110.2 ov (Ishaan Gadekar 105, Jalaj Saxena 5-103); KERALA 2nd inns 200 in 62.3 ov (Rohan Prem 70, Mohit Redkar 6-73); GOA 2nd inns 157-3 in 48.3 ov (Ishaan Gadekar 67*, Siddhesh Lad 33*). Goa won by seven wickets