Prabhudessai scores hundred before Goa capitulation

Suyash Prabhudessai struck 104, his third First Class hundred in the season.

PANAJI

On the eve of the match, the visiting team coach asserted the wicket at the GCA Academy Ground in Porvorim as sporting, with a little grass and a result guaranteed. And after the opening burst by the Tamil Nadu new ball bowlers, and spin showing early promise it looked a true surface and a major challenge for the Goa side who opted to bat here, in their fifth round Ranji Trophy Elite Group C against the high-on-confidence Tamil Nadu on Friday.

Goa were up against it very early, losing two wickets with only eight runs on board. Opener Ishaan Gadekar's wretched form continued as he perished on the second delivery of the morning for no score, trapped in front by speedster Sandeep Warrier. New man, Manthan Khutkar making his way back into the XI failed to make any impression falling on 4 to a soft dismissal, taken by the opposition skipper, Sai Kishore at covers off a Warrier quicker delivery.

With runs hard to come by, and the ball doing all the talking, Suyash Prabhudessai at the top of the order was joined by KV Siddarth in the middle and they applied themselves to temper the storm. Suyash was very circumspect but focussed and took as many as 24 deliveries to secure his first run. After being watchful for close to an hour, and on a 31-ball 2, Suyash opened up in the 12th over with three delectable boundaries off Tamil Nadu captain, and Slow Left arm Orthodox Sai Kishore as the pressure began to ease off the home side. As the session progressed, Suyash Prabhudessai along with K V Siddarth settled in to a nicety and took their side to lunch at 88-2 in 31 overs with Suyash on 51 (88b, 8x4) and K V Siddarth on 30 (68b, 3x4).

Upon resumption, on score 153-2, K V Siddarth on 69 was lucky to survive as his attempt at six over long on was muffed up by S Lokeshwar off Slow Left arm Orthodox Ajith Ram. But the batter failed to cash in on the chance as he succumbed in the same bowler's ensuing over misreading a quicker delivery to the adjudged leg before. K V Siddarth though had played his part in the salvage operation and stiched a 144-run third wicket stand with Suyash who held his end firm. By tea, Goa had moved to 180-3 in 60 overs with Suyash looking set for his third Ranji century of the season, batting solidly on 88 (164b, 15x4) with his captain, Darshan Misal keeping him company on 6.

Things began to look up for Goa at this stage with the wicket seemingly at ease to the batters and frustrating the fielding side no end. Misal had a reprieve on 17 when Pradosh Ranjan Paul grassed an opportunity at second slip off the veteran pacer, Warrier. Goa were on an exact 200 midway in the 65th over at this juncture. Like K V Siddarth, Misal did not make a lease at life count either, adding only another four runs to his score before nicking one behind off slow bowler, Sai Kishore. With Misal's dismissal, Goa had slipped to 205-4 in the 66th over, and middle-order batter Deepraj Gaonkar strode to the crease. Fortune favoured him as well, when on nought he was put down by the keeper, N Jagadeesan off the unlucky pacer, Warrier. Meanwhile, Suyash completed his third Ranji hundred for the season and his fifth in his 31st match at this level with a couple off Sai Kishore. His 100 came off 186 balls, with 16 hits to the ropes and looked destined for a big score. Goa had reached 224-4 with Deepraj providing company at 12 as Goa looked to resuscitate their first essay.

Things though began to take a sharp twist for the worse with the dismissal of the centurion Suyash, who on 104 (192b, 17x4) tried to sweep Sai Kishore, only to be trapped plumb in front. From 233-5 after 71 overs with the fall of Suyash's wicket, Goa abjectly capitulated to a combination of poor shot selection and recklessness rather than any merit from the bowlers. And before long, Goa were bowled out for 241 inside 76 overs.

In the Tamil Nadu attack, Slow Left arm Orthodox bowlers led the way with Sai Kishore having returns of 4-73 with his spin twin, Ajith Ram complimenting him with figures of 3-46.

After the changeover, the Tamil Nadu openers, debutant S Lokeshwar and N Jagadeesan went out to bat to negotiate the few overs to stumps. S Lokeshwar was fortunate to survive a leg before off the very first delivery as Left arm Medium fast, Arjun Tendulkar overstepped the popping crease. Save for the initial hiccup, the visitors were untroubled and stumps were called for with Tamil Nadu 20-0 in 7 overs, with S Lokeshwar on 15 and N Jagadeesan on 3, still trailing the home side by 221 runs.

Goa effected three changes in their starting XI with batters Snehal Kauthankar and Rahul Tripathi, and pacer Vijesh Prabhudessai making way for batter Manthan Khutkar, keeper-batter Samar Dubhashi and pacer Lakshay Garg.

BRIEF SCORE: Goa, 1st innings. 241 in 75.5 overs (Suyash Prabhudessai 104, K V Siddharth 69; Sai Kishore 4-73, Ajith Ram 3-46) vs Tamil Nadu, 1st innings. 20-0 in 7 overs (S Lokeshwar 15*)