PANAJI
On a third successive day, spinners had much of a say. Slow Left orthodox bowlers, Ajith Ram and Sai Kishore produced an encore to hasten another Goa collapse in the match to place Tamil Nadu firmly in control of a third successive win and an early finish against Goa at the GCA Academy Ground in Porvorim on Sunday.
Resuming at 10 for no loss, still 22 runs in arrears, Goa lost two quick wickets even before they could take a lead. Southpaw batters, in opener Ishaan Gadekar and one-down, Manthan Khutkar failed yet again. Gadekar (8) could add only a run to his overnight score when an attempt to drive Tamil Nadu skipper and Slow Left arm Orthodox Sai Kishore only resulted in an inside edge on to the stumps. Khutkar's misery culminated on a ten-ball duck when he edged a Sai Kishore delivery to Boopathi Vaishna Kumar at forward short leg as Goa were on the backfoot early at 23-2. The other opener, Suyash Prabhudessai meanwhile knuckled down for a long haul, and he was joined by KV Siddarth in the middle. The weight of expectations hinged largely on the in form duo to take the side out of troubled waters and on to terra firma once again. KV Siddarth looked to have his eye in, the moment he walked out to bat, and Suyash felt the invisible pressure belt gradually release to play more freely.
Though scoring may have not been as easy against the spinners bowling the bulk of the overs, in the morning session, one shot by KV Siddarth particularly stood out. Early in his innings, the former Karnataka player struck a sweetly-timed six over covers off Sai Kishore to undermine the fact that he was in glorious touch. Much was promised, but the KV Siddarth innings was cut short against the run of play. On 32 (55b, 4x4, 1x6), the golden arm of Right arm Offbreak Pradosh Ranan Paul was at hand and had the batter dazed by a straighter one that was pouched by Baba Indrajith at first slip. Goa slipped to 82-3, only 50 runs ahead as their captain, Darshan Misal strode out to the wicket. At lunch, Goa were 89-3 with Suyash well set on 42 (117b, 3x4) and Misal on 2.
Upon resumption, a pattern much like the last two days began to unfold. Misal on 12 was trapped in front as Sai Kishore picked his third wicket of the innings as the home side were reduced to 109-4 and a meaningful partnership was the need of the hour. New man Deepraj Gaonkar could not contribute much either. Pradosh came to party once again to have the right hand batter on 9 nick to Indrajith at first slip. Goa had lost half their side for 139, with Suyash waging a lone battle and needing much support from a capable lower order albeit on a wearing surface favouring spin. The in-form 26-year-old Suyash decided it prudent to take the matter into his own hands from his end, to throw the ever-threatening Tamil Nadu slow bowlers off their line and length. In the 60th over of the innings, Suyash tried to take Slow Left arm Orthodox Ajith Ram to task. Off the second ball, he survived a confident shout on an attempted sweep. The very next ball, he swept again and successfully towards the deep square leg boundary. But the persistent Ajith Ram, held his nerve and discipline and on the very next delivery, Suyash looking to repeat the stroke was adjudged leg before. Suyash top-scored for Goa in this innings as well with 79 (183b, 6x4) as the side were left in tatters at 155-6 with his downfall.
Having triumphed in the match-up, Ajith Ram, grew in confidence to compound the misery on the batters to follow, and combined with his spin twin, Sai Kishore to skittle out the home side. Arjun Tendulkar (8) was next to be taken by Pradosh at first slip off Sai Kishore. Keeper-batter Samar Dubhashi for nought and Mohit Redkar on 2 were claimed leg before by Ajith Kumar in the 64th over, only for the slow bowler to return in his ensuing over to wrap up the innings.. The innings folded at 168 in 65.5 overs with last man, Heramb Parab's slog could only go as far as mid off where Boopathi took a comfortable catch. Goa lost their last six wickets for a mere 29 runs, the last five producing just 13.
With only 137 runs to get, Tamil Nadu were clear cut favourites, bowler-conducive conditions notwithstanding. Save for Darshan Misal's Slow Left arm, the other bowlers thrust into the attack failed to needle any pressure on the batters. Tamil Nadu lost in form opener N Jagadeesan early for 4 as his middle stump was uprooted by the uncanny Misal. While left-hander Pradosh looked to grind out to another day, the diminutive debutant opener S Lokeshwar favoured attack as the best form of defence. S Lokeshwar on 18 survived a chance when he was dropped by the keeper Dubhashi off Misal. The score was only 36 at this point, and with Pradosh quite new at the crease things could swiftly change course yet again had the opportunity been taken.
Having lived a charmed life initially, S Lokeshwar tempered his approach progressively into his innings to end the day unbeaten on 34 with Pradosh for company on 22. Tamil Nadu went to stumps 61-1 in 26 overs with only another 76 runs to get another facile win.
BRIEF SCORE
> Goa, 1st innings. 241 in 75.5 overs (Suyash Prabhudessai 104, K V Siddharth 69; Sai Kishore 4-73, Ajith Ram 3-46) & 2nd innings. 168 in 65.5 overs (Suyash Prabhudessai 79; Ajith Ram 4-36, Sai Kishore 4-82) vs Tamil Nadu, 1st innings. 273 in 90.2 overs (N Jagadeesan 75, Pradosh Ranjan Paul 71, Vijay Shankar 54; Mohit Redkar 5-70, Darshan Misal 4-77)& 2nd innings. 61-1 in 26 overs (S Lokeshwar 34*)
