SCORES
Baroda, 1st innings: 472/8 declared; Goa, 1st innings (overnight 5/1): Shivendra Bhujbal b Rasikh Dar 12, Darshan Misal b Mahesh Pithiya 16, Abhinav Tejrana c DN Patel b Bhargav Bhatt 13, Snehal Kauthankar st M.G. Patel b Bhargav Bhatt 50, Lalit Yadav lbw b Mahesh Pithiya 54, Deepraj Gaonkar b Mahesh Pithiya 18, Mohit Redkar c P.S. Moliya b Mahesh Pithiya 4, Ruthvik Naik lbw b Bhargav Bhatt 12, Vasuki Koushik not out 4, Shubham Tari c and b Bhargav Bhatt 0, Extras 16. Total: 199 all out in 71.1 overs; Bowling (Baroda): Mahesh Pithiya 28-4-58-5, Bhargav Bhatt 19.1-3-51-4, Rasikh Dar 10-2-28-1, Atit Sheth 9-2-32-0, Raj Limbani 5-1-16-0.
Goa, 2nd innings: Suyash Prabhudessai b Mahesh Pithiya 2, Shivendra Bhujbal not out 13, Abhinav Tejrana not out 14, Extras 6. Total: 35/1 in 13 overs; Bowling (Baroda): Mahesh Pithiya 3.4-1-10-1, Rasikh Dar 2-0-2-0, Bhargav Bhatt 4-0-11-0, Priyanshu Moliya 2.2-0-5-0, Deepak Hooda 1-0-1-0
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PANAJI
Goa were staring at defeat in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A encounter against Baroda after being bowled out for 199 in their first innings and forced to follow on at the Panaji Gymkhana ground on Tuesday.
Baroda’s slow bowlers, Mahesh Pithiya (5-58 and 1-10) and Bhargav Bhatt (4-51), proved to be double trouble for Goa on day three, as the home side ended the day at 35-1 in their second innings, still 238 runs in arrears.
The game moved thick and fast in favour of the visitors, as Goa slid to 66-4 in their first innings, with new skipper Abhinav Tejrana falling for 13. Former captain Snehal Kauthankar, who was moved down to the middle order, and all-rounder Lalit Yadav forged Goa’s only noteworthy partnership, adding 81 runs for the fifth wicket off 141 deliveries. Both batters failed to capitalise on their starts and departed shortly after reaching their respective fifties. Kauthankar made 50 (86b, 5x4), while Lalit top-scored for the home side with 54 (95b, 5x4, 2x6).
Spin was the key for Baroda, with right-arm off-break bowler Pithiya picking up a five-wicket haul and slow left-arm orthodox bowler Bhatt claiming four wickets, while right-arm fast-medium bowler Rasikh Dar took the other wicket.
Having been bundled out for 199, still 273 runs behind the visitors, Goa were forced to follow on. Much like in their first innings, Goa lost opener Suyash Prabhudessai cheaply for 2, bowled by Pithiya, who celebrated his 100th first-class wicket with the dismissal.
The other opener, Shivendra Bhujbal, on 13, and captain Abhinav Tejrana, on 14, were at the crease when stumps were called at 35-1.
