All-round show by Suchith keeps visitors in the game
TOP PERFORMERS: (L-R) Goa’s Rohan Kadam (59) and Snehal Kauthankar (56*); Nagaland’s Jagadeesha Suchith (35 & 4-42).
SCOREBOX: Goa (First Innings) – 179 in 58.1 overs (Deepraj Gaonkar 62, Samar Dubhashi 44, Raja Ranjit Swarnkar 4/58, Nagaho Chishi 2/20, Jagadeesha Suchith 2/38); Nagaland (First Innings) – 147 in 55 overs (Jagadeesha Suchith 35 not out, Sedezhalie Rupero 26, Nagaho Chishi 23, Arjun Tendulkar 3/27, Rahul Mehta 2/4, Darshan Misal 2/46, Mohit Redkar 2/47); Goa (Second Innings) – 177/5 in 60 overs (Rohan Kadam 59, Snehal Kauthankar 56 not out, Manthan Khutkar 20, Jagadeesha Suchith 4/42, Rongsen Jonathan 1/39)
PANAJI
Opener Rohan Kadam and Snehal Kauthankar hit fifties as Goa took a 209-run lead against Nagaland with five wickets in hand at the end of Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy Plate group match at the Bhausaheb Bandodkar ground at Panjim Gymkhana, Campal on Sunday.
At the close of play, Goa were 177/5 in 60 overs in their second innings.
Goa’s second innings started on a disastrous note as Rahul Mehta was out on a duck in the second over itself. He was leg before wicket to Jagadeesha Suchith.
Then Rohan Kadam and Manthan Khutkar put on a 38-run partnership for the second wicket before Manthan was cleaned bowled by Jagadeesha Suchith for 20. Goa’s third wicket, Krishnamurthy Siddharth, also fell cheaply as he was out for 6 with the scoreboard reading 49/3.
Rohan Kadam, a professional from Karnataka who is representing Goa, registered his highest score of 59 in first-class cricket. His knock included five boundaries. This was Rohan’s seventh first-class match and second fifty of his career. He was well supported by Snehal Kauthankar who remained unbeaten on 56. It was Snehal’s 13th first-class fifty.
Together Rohan and Snehal put on a crucial 106-run partnership for the fourth wicket after Goa were in deep trouble at 49/3. Rohan’s was the fourth wicket to fall when the score was 155. Then came Deepraj Gaonkar to bat but he was unable to reproduce his form from the first innings as he was out cheaply on 13.
For Nagaland, Jagadeesha Suchith (4/42) was the most successful bowler with four wickets. He picked up the wickets of Rahul, Manthan, Rohan and Deepraj.
Earlier in the day, resuming at 74/6, Nagaland were all out for 147 in 55 overs just before lunch. They added 73 runs more in 25 overs to their overnight score before being all out. Goa thus took a crucial 32-run first-innings lead.
At one point, Nagaland were struggling at 91/7. But, a vital 33-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Jagadeesha Suchith and Nagaho Chishi helped the visitors cross the 100-run mark.
Jagadeesha Suchith was the top scorer for Nagaland and remained unbeaten on 35. He hit a six and three boundaries in his innings while Nagaho Chishi chipped in with a valuable 23 off 32 balls.
For Goa, Arjun Tendulkar (3/27) picked up three wickets. Debutant Rahul Mehta (2/4), skipper Darshan Misal (2/46) and Mohit Redkar (2/46) bagged two wickets each.
