PANAJI
The Goa pacers exploited the moisture-laden opening hour, to seize the initiative in the sixth-round Ranji Elite 'C' Group fixture at the Air Force Complex ground in Palam, New Delhi on Tuesday. Services were bundled out for 175, and in reply Goa responded with 36 for the loss of an early wicket. At stumps, southpaw Manthan Khutkar was on 18 and Suyash Prabhudesai on 17.Winning the toss and electing to bat, Services were made to regret the decision soon enough. The Goa new ball pair of Right arm Medium, Lakshay Garg and Left arm Fast Medium, Arjun Tendulkar were on song from word go. Under helpful conditions, they maintained their line and length to reap the fruition of their control with movement off the pitch. The top three batters of the hosts barely bothered the scorers as Services were reduced early to 11-3. Left-hander Shubham Rohilla (2) was involved in a horrible mix-up to be runout, while his partner at the top, Ravi Chauhan perished shortly after being trapped in front by Arjun. Shamsher Yadav in his comeback match did not last long, caught by Khutkar off Garg after contributing just 4 runs. Batting mainstays, Rahul Singh Gahlaut and captain, Rajat Paliwal tried to steady the ship, but their association could last only 72 deliveries with an addition of another 35 runs to the total.
Goa captain Darshan Misal, realising that Suyash Prabhudesai could be handful under the conditions with his Right arm Medium, brought him on as second change. Suyash justified the move of his captain by scalping the prized wicket of Gahlaut (13) in only his second over as the hosts sunk into deeper waters at 46-4.
Keeper-batter L S Kumar who joined Paliwal out in the middle, looked to take the attack to the opposition and got the scoreboard ticking. But left-arm pacer Arjun Tendulkar was to return for his second spell in the 24th over and struck off his third delivery. He prised out the big fish Paliwal for a patient 26, as Services lost half their side with only 67 runs on board.
At lunch, the hosts were tottering at 73-5 in 27 overs with keeper-batsman L S Kumar on 18 (29b, 3x4) and new man, Pulkit Narang on 4. Post-resumption, the Kumar-Narang duo tried to salvage the situation with an innings-best association of 45 (93b). It was time for spin in the Goa attack to join in the spoils. Right arm Offbreak Mohit Redkar in his fourth over cleaned up Kumar for 32 (62b, 4x4).
Goa kept chipping away with every bowler having a mention in the wicket's column. Narang who top-scored at number seven with a well-made 52 (91b, x4) was cleaned up by pacer Vijesh Prabhudesai. It was the second of his third scalps in the innings in a memorable comeback match. With Narang the eighth wicket down at 156, Misal came to party as well while Vijesh ensured that the Services first essay folded at 175 in the 60th over.
In reply, Goa lost opener Ishaan Gadekar (1) with only 5 on the scorecard in the fourth over. He was out leg before to Right arm medium pacer Poonam Poonia. By stumps, Goa returned to the pavilion the happier of the sides trailing by 139 runs with Khutkar on 18 (56b, 2x4) and Suyash on 17 (43b, 1x4).
Speaking to The Goan at the end of Day 1, Goa Head Coach Mansur Ali Khan sounded pleased with his bowlers' collective efforts. "We bowled well after the hosts elected to bat first. Our bowlers understood the line and length they had to bowl on the wicket. All our three pacers - Lakshay Garg, Arjun Tendulkar and Vijesh Prabhudesai were on the money. Back in the side after two years, Vijesh did a job required of him for the team. All the fast bowlers stood up when wanted."
But the seasoned gaffer also had a word of caution, that his batsmen need to play with respect to the conditions. "The wicket is on the low and slow side, and the weather is cold. There will be initial moisture in the first hour, and our batting unit needs to play vertical shots and apply themselves as a batting unit."
SCORES
>Services 1st inns 175 in 59.2 overs (Pulkit Narang 52, Vijesh Prabhudesai 3-39, Arjun Tendulkar 2-27); Goa 1st inns 36-1 in 18 overs (Manthan Khutkar 18*, Suyash Prabhudesai 17*, Poonam Poonia 1-8)
