====
DAY HIGHLIGHTS
Former Goa captain Snehal Kauthankar struck an unbeaten 116 off 194 balls, with 12 boundaries, to revive Goa after an early collapse.
Skipper Abhinav Tejrana scored a valuable 73 off 110 balls, sharing a crucial 99-run fifth-wicket partnership with Kauthankar.
Kauthankar and Darshan Misal (24*) added an unbeaten 62-run stand to take Goa to 288/6 at stumps on Day 1.
====
THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
With yet another reverse and no points on board after three Ranji fixtures, The Goan texted Snehal Kauthankar, a veteran top-order batter and former captain in the State side, stating that his performance in the ongoing season left much to be desired and with the youngsters pushing, a big score was due.
And the 31-year-old who had mustered just 58 runs from six innings in the multi-day format this season, responded in telling fashion on Day 1 against Bihar, in a fourth-round Ranji Trophy Elite Group A tie at Panjim Gymkhana Ground, Panaji on Monday.
Playing in 69th First Class match, the senior statesman struck a magnificent unbeaten 116 realised in 194 deliveries with 12 hits to the ropes. Giving him company at close of play, was the experienced southpaw, Darshan Misal on 24 (52b, 2x4). The duo had raised 62 runs from 99 balls, when stumps were called at 288-6 in 87 overs.
Earlier in the day, electing to bat, on winning the toss, Goa encountered the familiar batting wobble with wickets falling in a clump. The home team were in troubled waters at 54-4 by the 24th over, when the deposed captain, Snehal Kauthankar joined hands with the current skipper, Abhinav Tejrana to betide the storm. Tejrana looked in fine touch for the side’s first century of the season, until a momentary loss of concentration saw him induce a nick to a delighted Sakibul Gani at first slip off Left arm Orthodox, Khalid Alam. In compiling a neat 73 (110b, 8x4), Tejrana played his part in a crucial 99-run (141b) stand for the fifth wicket with Kauthankar, shaping well on 41, to bring a semblance of respect to the innings. At 153-5, in walked the confident young allrounder, Yash Kasvankar and complemented the settled Kauthankar to a nicety. Kasvankar’s promising and patient knock of 28 was cut short when he was pouched at first slip by Suraj Kashyap off Slow Left arm Orthodox, Suman Kumar. The 21-year-old by then, raised a valuable 73 (140b) in company of Kauthankar as Goa progressed to 226-6. With the seasoned allrounder, Darshan Misal coming in at number eight, and the opposition attack blunted, Goa had the visitors at their proverbial mercy to pile on the runs at will until stumps.
But there were some anxious moments too with Kauthankar in his nineties looking a touch nervy to bring up his much-awaited 11th Ranji hundred, and Misal surviving a dropped catch by the Bihar wicketkeeper, Bipin Saurabh, on 12. Kauthankar, eventually got to his milestone with a well-timed shot towards fine leg, running two, to bring up an exact hundred from 168 balls, off slow bowler, Suman Kumar, which was studded with ten boundaries and 233 minutes at the wicket.
In the Bihar attack, Right arm Medium, Vasudev Prasad Singh impressed with early zip and nip off the wicket, to set the cat among the pigeons’ early doors, claiming both Goa openers for not much runs on board. His injury, in the course of the day, nullified any chances Bihar had to dominate proceedings.
Goa brought in a pace change with Heramb Parab replacing Shubham Tari in the playing XI.
BRIEF SCORES
Goa, 1st innings: 288-6 in 87 overs (Snehal Kauthankar 116*, Abhinav Tejrana 73, Vasudev Prasad Singh 2-37, Suraj Kashyap 2-55)
