PANAJI
Pondicherry Slow Left arm Orthodox Sagar Udeshi's impeccable control and vicious turn on a tricky surface reaped rich dividends as his 5-76 ensured Goa could only muster a modest 223 in the fifth-round fixture at the GCA Academy ground in Porvorim on Tuesday. In response, Pondicherry began well to go to stumps at 17 for no loss with Neyan Kangayan on 12 and Aravind K on 4.
Put in to bat by the opposition, Goa went out with southpaw openers in debutant Manthan Khutkar and Ishaan Gadekar. While Khutkar looked composed, Gadekar was a bit tentative to begin with. Runs were hard to come by, and particularly off the bat of Gadekar. Gadekar tried to break free when in the ninth over he struck confident boundaries off Right arm Medium pacer, S Ashwath, to get some momentum to the Goa innings.
But the joy was short-lived when in the very next over, pacer Abin Mathew induced a nick to have Khutkar (11) caught by Paras Dogra. Gadekar was undone when his lofted shot was pouched by Aravind K at deep mid wicket off the guiles of Sagar Udeshi. With the inexperienced Goa openers back in the pavilion with only 43 on the board after 15 overs, Goa were looking towards Suyash Prabudesai to continue his merry-scoring ways on his home ground, while Snehal Kauthankar looked to turn around the corner.
But the visitors' attack continued to maintain a disciplined line and length on a dicey track as the home side went on to commit one error after another. Suyash Prabhudessai came short of runs on yet another challenging surface. He made 12 as Sagar Udeshi claimed his second wicket and Goa were in trouble at 50-3.
Siddesh Lad faced 14 deliveries without troubling the scorers when he was taken low at short mid wicket by Ashwith off Abin Mathew. Goa had slumped to 57-4. Keeper-batsman, Eknath Kerkar, got off the mark with a boundary at square leg, and looked in right earnest to resurrect the Goa first essay along with Snehal Kauthankar who played foil. The pair took the home side to lunch at 79-4 in 35 overs with Kauthankar on 17 (52b, 1x4) and Kerkar on 3 (35b, 2x4).
A fine repair job was in progress until a needless slog sweep attempt by a well-set Kauthankar on 32 ( 98b, 5x4) proved his downfall as Udeshi had him cleaned up. With the wicket, the slow bowler completed 150 First Class wickets in only 27th First Class match.
With 117 on the board, it was up to Kerkar and in-form captain, Darshan Misal to salvage the precarious situation. Udeshi picked the other well-set batter Kerkar for 41 (99b, 5x4) when he failed to read the line and was bowled.
Goa were reeling at 130-6 as Arjun Tendulkar went cheaply for 4 caught by Paras Dogra off Pondicherry captain, Rohit D teasing offbreaks.
Down in the dumps at 150-7, and it was time for some bravado before lunch. Mohit Redkar hammered the first two deliveries he faced for boundaries and struck the last ball before lunch to the ropes as well. Goa went to tea at 163/7 in 66 overs with a counter-attacking Redkar on 12 (8b,3x4) keeping company to his captain Misal on 25 (42b, 3x4).
Upon resumption, while Redkar was at the crease and Misal looking solid at the other end, runs began to come. But as the partnership began to prosper, calamity struck. Redkar on 32 (45b, 6x4) placed the ball to the covers, and had a single for the taking, but a dreadful mix-up with Misal, led to his unfortunate run-out.
Goa were left tottering at 198-8, with Misal looking good on 36 and capable bat Lakshay Garg striding out in the middle at 10. Udeshi picked up his 13th 5-fer at the First Class level, when he scalped Lakshay Garg for 11, nicking Paras Dogra at first slip. Ruthvik (0) lasted a few deliveries, to ensure his captain Misal brought up a well-deserved 50 (85b, 4x4) as Goa folded up for 223 in 84 overs.
With four overs left for stumps, Goa went with an attacking mindset in the field. The Pondicherry openers - Neyan Kangayan and Aravind K negotiated the few overs without undue risk seeing off the opening day's play unseparated at the score 17-0.
SCORES
> Goa 1st Inns 223 in 84 overs (Darshan Misal 50*, Sagar Udeshi 5-76); Pondicherry 1st Inns 17/0 in 4 overs (Neyan Kangayan 12*)
Put in to bat by the opposition, Goa went out with southpaw openers in debutant Manthan Khutkar and Ishaan Gadekar. While Khutkar looked composed, Gadekar was a bit tentative to begin with. Runs were hard to come by, and particularly off the bat of Gadekar. Gadekar tried to break free when in the ninth over he struck confident boundaries off Right arm Medium pacer, S Ashwath, to get some momentum to the Goa innings.
But the joy was short-lived when in the very next over, pacer Abin Mathew induced a nick to have Khutkar (11) caught by Paras Dogra. Gadekar was undone when his lofted shot was pouched by Aravind K at deep mid wicket off the guiles of Sagar Udeshi. With the inexperienced Goa openers back in the pavilion with only 43 on the board after 15 overs, Goa were looking towards Suyash Prabudesai to continue his merry-scoring ways on his home ground, while Snehal Kauthankar looked to turn around the corner.
But the visitors' attack continued to maintain a disciplined line and length on a dicey track as the home side went on to commit one error after another. Suyash Prabhudessai came short of runs on yet another challenging surface. He made 12 as Sagar Udeshi claimed his second wicket and Goa were in trouble at 50-3.
Siddesh Lad faced 14 deliveries without troubling the scorers when he was taken low at short mid wicket by Ashwith off Abin Mathew. Goa had slumped to 57-4. Keeper-batsman, Eknath Kerkar, got off the mark with a boundary at square leg, and looked in right earnest to resurrect the Goa first essay along with Snehal Kauthankar who played foil. The pair took the home side to lunch at 79-4 in 35 overs with Kauthankar on 17 (52b, 1x4) and Kerkar on 3 (35b, 2x4).
A fine repair job was in progress until a needless slog sweep attempt by a well-set Kauthankar on 32 ( 98b, 5x4) proved his downfall as Udeshi had him cleaned up. With the wicket, the slow bowler completed 150 First Class wickets in only 27th First Class match.
With 117 on the board, it was up to Kerkar and in-form captain, Darshan Misal to salvage the precarious situation. Udeshi picked the other well-set batter Kerkar for 41 (99b, 5x4) when he failed to read the line and was bowled.
Goa were reeling at 130-6 as Arjun Tendulkar went cheaply for 4 caught by Paras Dogra off Pondicherry captain, Rohit D teasing offbreaks.
Down in the dumps at 150-7, and it was time for some bravado before lunch. Mohit Redkar hammered the first two deliveries he faced for boundaries and struck the last ball before lunch to the ropes as well. Goa went to tea at 163/7 in 66 overs with a counter-attacking Redkar on 12 (8b,3x4) keeping company to his captain Misal on 25 (42b, 3x4).
Upon resumption, while Redkar was at the crease and Misal looking solid at the other end, runs began to come. But as the partnership began to prosper, calamity struck. Redkar on 32 (45b, 6x4) placed the ball to the covers, and had a single for the taking, but a dreadful mix-up with Misal, led to his unfortunate run-out.
Goa were left tottering at 198-8, with Misal looking good on 36 and capable bat Lakshay Garg striding out in the middle at 10. Udeshi picked up his 13th 5-fer at the First Class level, when he scalped Lakshay Garg for 11, nicking Paras Dogra at first slip. Ruthvik (0) lasted a few deliveries, to ensure his captain Misal brought up a well-deserved 50 (85b, 4x4) as Goa folded up for 223 in 84 overs.
With four overs left for stumps, Goa went with an attacking mindset in the field. The Pondicherry openers - Neyan Kangayan and Aravind K negotiated the few overs without undue risk seeing off the opening day's play unseparated at the score 17-0.
SCORES
> Goa 1st Inns 223 in 84 overs (Darshan Misal 50*, Sagar Udeshi 5-76); Pondicherry 1st Inns 17/0 in 4 overs (Neyan Kangayan 12*)
