PANAJI
If one has to say that multi-day format domestic matches are drab and uninteresting, one would have not seen a match like the one that unfolded in the last round Ranji Trophy Elite 'C' Group fixture between Chhattisgarh and Goa at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur on Friday.
Goa showed a lot of resolve in their effort to stave off a defeat albeit in vain. Amid high drama punctuated by player injuries and a meter reading, the hosts Chhattisgarh secured a thrilling eight-wicket win in fading light and off the penultimate delivery of the mandatory overs in the match.
Set a target of 52 runs to win in six overs, Chattisgarh walked out to bat in their second dig, with first-innings centurion, Shashank Chandrakar and hard-hitter, Shashank Singh.
The hosts were pegged back on 11 with the fall of Chandrakar (2) whose lofted shot attempt was pouched by Deepraj Gaonkar at long-on off the last delivery of the opening over by Right arm medium Vjesh Prabhudessai. In a tactical move, southpaw Ajay Mandal came at one-down to tackle Left arm Medium fast, Arjun Tendulkar bowling from the North End. An otherwise excellent fielder, Manthan Khutkar dropped a regulation catch with Mandal, the benefactor on 3, on the second delivery off the fourth over bowled by Tendulkar much to the speedster's dismay, with two runs also conceded with the drop. There was a delay as Khutkar needed medical attention. With 16 runs needed off 12 legal deliveries, Vijesh returned to bowl his third over and scalped the dangerous Shashank for 23 (15b) taken well by Suyash at the boundary off his first ball. As the game became more tense, and at 36-2, the experienced Amandeep Khare came to the wicket, eager to make amends for his first-innings failure. Only two deliveries later, Vijesh held his hamstring to another slight pause in the chase. Khare was up to the task though, and from get go looked to be on roller skates running twos with ease. With 11 to get off the last over, the light meter was summoned by the on-field umpires, as the drama continued to interject the suspense of a result.
In the eventual final over, and Tendulkar back at his run-up with purpose, southpaw Mandal took off for a comfortable single as the ball went towards the backward point. Next ball, Khare was fortuitous with an inside edge going to the fine leg boundary, as a pleading appeal by the bowler was turned down. Khare ran like a rabbit averting the hunter's bullets off the next three deliveries for twos, to cinch the game for his side.
Earlier in the day, Goa who were forced to follow on, started the final day at 4 for no loss in their second innings still trailing the hosts by 168 runs. Ishaan Gadekar (59, 139b, 5x4, 1x6) stood stoic and resolute amid a top-order collapse. The visitors were up against it at 60-4, when keeper-batter, Eknath Kerkar joined Gadekar for a salvage operation. The duo realised a fifth-wicket stand of 65 when Kerkar fell for 23 done in by an arm ball bowled by Slow Left arm Orthodox Ajay Mandal. Shortly afterwards, Gadekar was to depart to the same bowler as his back leg was caught off guard to a leg before verdict. At 127-6, Goa were still trailing by 45 runs and were in danger of losing by an innings as the hosts slow bowlers began to weave their magic on a weathered strip. Southpaw Arjun Tendulkar who joined his captain, Darshan Misal, also relatively new at the wicket, were tasked with the responsibility of a back-to-the-wall rescue act. But this was not to be. At the stroke of tea, Tendulkar on 13 was neatly taken behind by keeper MSS Hussain off Mandal as Goa were reduced to 155-7 in 63 overs. Goa were still 17 runs adrift, and at least 31 mandatory overs left in the game to hold on for a draw.
Upon resumption, Mohit Redkar joined Misal, and the spin twins raised 48 vital runs. Redkar made an invaluable 35 (56b, 5x4, 1x6), when a special delivery by Chhattisgarh's go-to bowler, Right arm Medium Ravi Kiran provided the breakthrough. At this point, Goa were 31 runs in front and with two wickets in hand, and 14.4 mandatory overs left in the game. Misal was still holding fort, as Lakshay Garg joined his skipper in the middle. With the second ball immediately taken in the ensuing over, pacer, Vashudev Bareth was priming himself for an impression in the innings. His first deliveries drifted towards leg stump were dispatched to the ropes by Misal with ease. But Bareth had the last laugh with his next ball taking the outside edge and the keeper making no mistake. Misal contributed 35 (77b, 4x4). Goa moved to 213-9 in 80.3 overs when last man, Vijesh Prabhudessai walked out to bat. Vijesh played his part, batting out time and playing an important hand in a a 10-run last wicket stand with Garg. Goa eventually were bowled out for 223 in 86 overs, setting the hosts a target of 52 in 6 overs in a helter-skelter chase.
