Ranji Trophy: Baroda make slow progress against Goa on opening day

SCORES
Baroda, First Innings: Dhruv Patel lbw b Mohit Redkar 30, Shivalik Sharma c Lalit Yadav b Ruthvik Naik 60, Priyanshu Moliya b Darshan Misal 21, Shashwat Rawat not out 40, Deepak Hooda not out 38; Extras 13; Total: 204 for 3 in 85 overs.
Bowling: Vasuki Koushik 19-11-18-0, Ruthvik Naik 14-2-28-1, Lalit Yadav 15-2-41-0, Shubham Tari 6-0-26-0, Mohit Redkar 21-2-55-1, Darshan Misal 4-0-16-1, Abhinav Tejrana 2-0-3-0, Deepraj Gaonkar 4-1-11-0.
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BASIL SYLVESTER PINTO
PANAJI
India international Deepak Hooda (38*) and Shashwat Rawat (40*) shared an unbeaten 73-run partnership for the fourth wicket as Baroda reached 204-3 at stumps on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match against Goa at the Panjim Gymkhana Ground in Panaji on Sunday.
Opting to bat, Baroda crawled to 61 for no loss after 32 overs at lunch with the openers, Dhruv Patel on a patient 26 and Shivalik Sharma on a compact 32. The Goa attack toiled under the searing heat, with experienced pacer Vasuki Koushik impressing with only five runs conceded from his nine overs.
Post resumption, the home side got its first breakthrough shortly after with off-break bowler Mohit Redkar trapping debutant Dhruv plumb in front for 30 (116b, 2x4). Dhruv and Shivalik raised a painstaking 67 runs in 211 balls for the opening stand.
Baroda continued to build partnerships which promised a lot more, but each time were pegged back. One-down Priyanshu Moliya made 21 (60b, 3x4), when he nicked to the Goa keeper Shivendra Bhujbal off the seasoned slow left-arm orthodox Darshan Misal as Baroda were two down at 104 in the 56th over.
Innings top-scorer, southpaw Shivalik Sharma, who looked untroubled during his stay at the crease, had right-arm medium pacer Ruthvik Naik induce a false shot from him on 62 (190b, 3x4, 1x6) that spooned the ball towards Lalit Yadav at point. With Baroda at 131-3, the home side were back in the contest.
But the visitors' middle order held firm with Rawat on a solid 40 (100b, 4x4) and the veteran Hooda making his return to his former team on a measured unbeaten 38 (54b, 4x4), as their unseparated 73-run partnership for the fourth wicket ended the day with both teams sharing the honours.
Newly appointed Goa skipper Abhinav Tejrana used eight bowlers during the day, including himself. Misal, Redkar and Naik claimed a wicket each. Baroda opener Dhruv Patel and Goa wicketkeeper Shivendra Bhujbal were handed their first-class caps ahead of the match.