AGENCIES
Mumbai
Fine centuries from opener Bhavin Thakkar and captain Rohan Prem guided Kerala to a strong position as they reached 290-2 at the end of the first day’s play in their Group C match against Goa at Brabourne Stadium here on Sunday.
Earlier, Goa captain Sagun Kamat won the toss and elected fielding. Goa bowler R R Singh justified his captain’s decision by picking up first wicket in the seventh over. When Vishnu Vinod (5) was caught by Sagun, the openers had added 12 runs to the scoreboard.
In-form Rohan Prem joined Bhavin in the middle and the pair not only stemmed a collapse but defied the Goa attack, adding 234 runs for the second wicket. Bhavin brought up his maiden ton in Kerala uniform in his sixth appearance in 167 balls. Soon Rohan too reached his three-figure mark, the second of the season.
In the 77th over, Bhavin (117 off 200 balls, 4x14) lost his stumps to left-arm spinner Shadab Jakati. At stumps, Rohan (120 balls off 272 balls, 4x16) and Sanju V Samson (28) are at the crease. For Goa bowlers, it was a day of hard toil as four of them went wicketless.
BRIEF SCORES
Kerala 290/2 (Bhavin Thakkar 117, Rohan Prem 120*) vs Goa
