Ranji Trophy: Railways derailed at 208, Goa reply strongly at 93-1

Suyash Prabhudessai scored an unbeaten 54 to launch Goa's chase of 306.

Photo Credits: Basil Sylvester Pinto / File photo

BRIEF SCORES
>Railways, 1st innings. 297 in 90.5 overs (Upendra Yadav 91, Suraj Ahuja 81; Deepraj Gaonkar 3-26) & 2nd innings. 208 in 63.3 overs (Ashutosh Sharma 81; Darshan Misal 4-44) vs Goa, 1st innings. 200 in 68.2 overs (Amogh Desai 61; Adarsh Singh 4-49, Akash Pandey 4-62) & 2nd innings. 93-1 in 31 overs (Suyash Prabhudessai 54*) >Goa need 213 runs to win

PANAJI
Underdogs Goa came strongly into the contest with a fine bowling effort to first dismiss Railways for only 208, and then knock off 93 runs for the loss of a wicket in chase of a challenging target of 306 in a sixth-round Ranji Trophy Elite Group C clash at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat on Sunday.

The visitors started the morning session brightly, with their new ball opening bowlers, speedsters Heramb Parab and Lakshay Garg bowling with good rhythm, and to a plan backed up by an energetic side in the field. Railways, who began the day at 31 for no loss in their second essay with a cushy 128 runs lead, had the complexion of the contest quickly change for them. With only seven runs added to the overnight score, Suraj Ahuja on 21, played the wrong line and a leading edge was taken at gully by Deepraj Gaonkar off quick Lakshay Garg. His pace partner, Parab provided the second breakthrough when Vivek Singh, on 21, nicked to the substitute keeper, Samar Dubhashi. The same combination had another moment to rejoice shortly after with accomplished batter, Mohammad Saif perishing early for 5. Lakshay was not to be left behind in the wickets column, as his sharp incutter castled Railways captain, Upendra Singh for nought as the home side stumbled to 69-4 and the pacer going cock-a-hoop.

Railways lost half their side for 85, when southpaw Pratham Singh (28) tried to sweep a loopy delivery off Right arm Offbreak Mohit Redkar and the ball ricocheted off the bat and helmet towards the slow bowler who accepted a simple catch on his follow-through. Meanwhile, Ashutosh Sharma came to the fore with his devil-may-care attitude to bring some kind of substance in a drastically disintegrating innings. Along with Sahab Singh, he constructed a significant 61-run sixth wicket association and then combined with Yuvraj Singh as an ally, to stitch a 46-run seventh wicket partnership.

Sahab was the first wicket to fall post lunch at 146-6, with Goa captain and Slow Left arm Orthodox, Darshan Misal accounting for his important scalp having the batter taken by Suyash at extra cover for 34. Yuvraj made 10 before he became Darshan's second victim in the innings, nicking one to Deepraj at second slip. From 192-7, the innings quickly folded up at 208 in a matter of a few overs. Akash Pandey was run out for 5 by Suyash, Ashutosh Sharma holed out to substitute fielder Shubham Desai at long on for a well-made 81 (93b, 8x4, 3x6) off Darshan, and the last man, Adarsh Singh was trapped in front for no score by Darshan.

Set a target of 306, the match was interestingly poised for a fourth innings chase. With a pace-spin new ball ploy to contend with, the onus was on the Goa openers, Suyash Prabudessai and Amogh Desai to set a sound platform. While pacer Yuvraj did not look at his best, the Slow Left arm magic of Akash Pandey served notice of his skill sets early. Suyash tried his customary sweeps and reverse sweeps against the wily slow bowler, and looked at unease but was fortuitous not to nick any to the slip cordon. Amogh on his part, after surviving a vociferous appeal for a caught behind, lost his focus and off the very next delivery nicked one behind as Akash Pandey rejoiced. After losing Amogh for 13, his opening partner Suyash gradually got his eye in as he was joined by an experienced Snehal Kauthankar at the wicket. Suyash had a slice of luck when he was dropped on 43 by Suraj Ahuja at point. His partner, Kauthankar also had his fair share when he edged a delivery behind to the boundary on the last ball of the day.

At stumps, Goa had reached 93-1 in 31 overs with Suyash Prabhudessai on 54 (88b, 3x4) and Snehal Kauthankar on 23 (54b, 3x4) needing another 213 runs for a win.