PANAJI
Goa fought back to restrict Nagaland to 205/8 at the end of the second day’s play of the final of Ranji Trophy Plate Group at the Nagaland Cricket Stadium in Sovima on Friday Nagaland still trail Goa by 71 runs.
Earlier in the day, Goa could add just 18 runs off 14.2 overs to their overnight score to be bowled out for 276. Kashyap Bakhale remained unbeaten on 79. For Nagaland, Jagadeesha Suchith (4/69) bagged four wickets while Imliwati Lemtur (3/38) took three wickets.
Nagaland skipper Rongsen Jonathan led their team’s fightback with a brilliant knock of 86 off 116 balls that included 11 fours. Eventually, Jonathan was clean-bowled by Goa captain Darshan Misal before he could reach the three-digit figure.
Nagaland started their innings on a disastrous note as both their openers Sedezhalie Rupero (0) and Dega Nischal (2) were dismissed cheaply with the scoreboard at 7/2. Right-arm medium-fast bowler Heramb Parab did the early damage by claiming both the openers’ wickets.
But, a 134-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Hem Chetri (55) and skipper Rongsen Jonathan (86) steadied Nagland’s innings. Both looked in complete control of the match and were poised to take Nagaland to a big total.
However, when Hem Chetri was run out by Suyash Prabhudessai for 55 with the scoreboard at 159/4, that proved to be the turning point of the match. After Chetri’s dismissal, Nagaland's innings collapsed with their next four wickets falling for mere 35 runs. From 159/3, Nagaland were reduced to 194/8. Mohit Redkar claimed two of those four wickets.
For Goa, Hermab Parab (3/26) was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets. Mohit Redkar (2/69) took two wickets while Darshan Misal (1/49) bagged a wicket. Two batsmen were run out.
SCORES: Goa (First Innings) – 276 all in 104.2 overs (Kashyap Bakhale 79 not out, Snehal Kauthankar 63, Suyash Prabhudessai 56, Jagadeesha Suchith 4/69, Imliwati Lemtur 3/38, Dip Borah 1/55, Rongsen Jonathan 1/61); Nagaland (First Innings) – 205/8 in 62 overs (Rongsen Jonathan 86, Hem Chetri 55, Heramb Parab 3/26, Mohit Redkar 2/69, Darshan Misal 1/49)
