Goa’s bowlers face crucial challenge of picking nine wickets
PANAJI
Chasing 338 runs to win, Nagaland were 145/1 in 57 overs, still 194 runs short of target, at stumps on day 3, of the Ranji Trophy Plate group match at the Bhausaheb Bandodkar ground at Panjim Gymkhana, Campal on Monday.
Nagaland started their run chase on a solid note with century run partnership for the opening wicket.
Dega Nischal, a professional from Karnataka, who represents Nagaland along with Sedezhalie Rupero put on 119-run stand for the first wicket.
Goa got its first break through in the form of Sedezhalie Rupero who was dismissed on 48 off 153 balls. Goa captain Darshan Misal claimed his wicket. Rupero who hit five boundaries in his innings, just missed scoring his ninth first class fifty.
Dega Nischal who hit his fourth fifty in first class cricket in his 21st match remained unbeaten on 76 at end of play. Nischal hit 7 fours and looked solid in the middle.
His partner Hem Chetri was batting on 12.
Together, Nischal and Rupero made a mockery of Goa's bowling attack with none of the Goan bowlers making any significant impact in today’s day of play.
It was a very much improvised performance by Nagaland's batters who were bowled out for just 147 in their first innings.
Earlier in the day, Goa resuming at 177/5 were all out for 306 in 92.1 overs just before lunch. They added 129 more runs in 32.1 overs to their overnight score for the loss of five wickets.
Snehal Kauthankar who topped scored with 75 off 152 balls, was the first to go today. He was leg before wicket to Raja Ranjit Swarnkar. Snehal added just 19 more runs to his overnight score of 56.
Arjun Tendulkar’s quick-fire 42 off 39 balls that included 3 sixes and 2 fours along with skipper Darshan Misal’s 30 and Samar Dubhashi’s 28 enabled Goa to cross the 300 run mark.
Nagaland gave away 20 runs in extras (16 - bye, 2 - leg bye and 2 - no ball).
For Nagaland, skipper Rongsen Jonathan (4/59) and Jagadeesha Suchith (4/81) claimed four wickets while Imliwati Lemtur (1/40) and Raja Ranjit Swarnkar (1/41) took a wicket each.
Infact, Jonathan took three of the five Goa wickets that fell today – Samar Dubhashi, Arjun Tendulkar and Mohit Redkar.
If Goa has to win this match and thereby top the table of Ranji Plate Group Division, their bowlers will have to bowl extremely well on the last day and claim nine wickets.
It rained heavily in Panaji later in the evening. So, there will be moisture in the pitch tomorrow on the final day which could favour the bowlers.
Brief Score
Goa (First Innings) – 179 in 58.1 overs (Deepraj Gaonkar 62, Samar Dubhashi 44, Raja Ranjit Swarnkar 4/58, Nagaho Chishi 2/20, Jagadeesha Suchith 2/38)
Nagaland (First Innings) – 147 in 55 overs (Jagadeesha Suchith 35 not out, Sedezhalie Rupero 26, Nagaho Chishi 23, Arjun Tendulkar 3/27, Rahul Mehta 2/4, Darshan Misal 2/46, Mohit Redkar 2/47)
Goa (Second Innings) – 306 in 92.1 overs (Snehal Kauthankar 75, Rohan Kadam 59, Arjun Tendulkar 42, Darshan Misal 30, Rongsen Jonathan 4/59, Jagadeesha Suchith 4/81)
Nagaland (Second Innings) – 145/1 in 57 overs (Dega Nischal 76 not out, Sedezhalie Rupero 48, Darshan Misal 1/43)
