PANAJI
Jharkhand captain Virat Singh's unbeaten 100 (97b, 9x4, 6x6) and his rollicking 136-run (167b) third-wicket stand with opener Kumar Deobrat (72) lit up an otherwise dull day that was largely reduced to academic interest in the second round Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match at the Keenan Stadium, Jamshedpur on Friday.
Starting the final day with a 24-run first innings lead, Jharkhand openers Deobrat and Utkarsh Singh began their second essay in circumspect fashion. Utkarsh was first to depart on 16 when he failed to read a flighted delivery, to be caught and bowled by Mohit Redkar. From 41-1 in the 19th over, Jharkhand lost another wicket with an addition of only 10 runs as one-down Kumar Suraj (1) was unable to read a wrong'un and Redkar claimed his second scalp. Redkar, playing only his second First Class match had returns of 2-10 in 6.1 overs to take his wickets tally to 10 in only his third innings at the level.
At 51-2, Jharkhand captain Virat -- who did not take the field on the third day due to an injury -- took it upon himself to lead the way with sublime skill and dazzling strokeplay. In Deobrat, he had an ally to stitch together a substantial partnership. Deobrat was the third wicket to fall when on 72 (151b, 6x4, 2x6) as he attempted an ambitious shot off Suyash Prabhudesai. After the Jharkhand captain brought up his century, the home side declared their innings at 212-3 in 55 overs.
Set a target of 237 runs, Goa lost three wickets with only 16 runs on the board after 8 overs with slow left-arm orthodox Shahbaz Nadeem and right-arm off-break Utkarsh Singh among the wickets. While Nadeem had Sumiran Amonkar stumped by Kushagra for 4, Utkarsh got the other Goa opener Amogh Desai (6), and Suyash Prabhudesai (5) both bowled. Snehal Kauthankar on 34 (43b, 4x4, 1x6) and captain Darshan Misal on 11 saw Goa to stumps at 61-3 in 23 overs.
With the match drawn after securing a first innings lead, Jharkhand bagged three points while Goa had to be content with a solitary point.
SCORES: Jharkhand, 1st innings: 386 in 128.1 overs (Kushagra 96, Tiwary 65, Misal 4-68); Goa, 1st innings: 362 in 134.3 overs (Kerkar 73, Misal 71, Utkarsh 4-71, Nadeem 4-86); Jharkhand, 2nd innings: 212/3d in 55 overs (Virat Singh 100*, Deobrat 72, Redkar 2-64); Goa, 2nd innings: 61/3 in 23 overs (Kauthankar 34*, Utkarsh 2-25).
