PANAJI
Smarting from a nine-wicket defeat against Pondicherry at home, Goa will look for maximum points in an away Elite 'C' Group fixture against Services at Air Force Ground, Palam, New Delhi.
With Goa's opponents also coming into the game embittering a massive 204-run loss against Kerala in Thumba, the penultimate round clash promises to be a riveting contest at a ground expected to produce an outcome. Goa are sixth with 11 points ahead of Services, who are a rung below with 7 points. Goa only have mathematical chances of progression to the next stage, even if they win outright their remaining two rounds.
But they would not even look that far. The reality check of taking an opposition without a point last game lightly, and losing calamitously should ensure Goa have their shoelaces in place to produce a performance similar to their last away engagement when they beat Kerala, if not any better.
Goa have an unsettled pairing at the top. After a heady man-of-the-match Ranji debut against Kerala in Thumba (105 and 67*), much was expected from southpaw Ishaan Gadekar against Pondicherry at home. But Gadekar's performance in the ensuing match left a lot to be desired, and he will look to play to his early promise in the away outing. Another southpaw, 23-year-old Manthan Khutkar debuted last match, and looked good in each of his brief essays but was a victim of shot indiscretion. He is likely to be given another chance while seasoned opener Amogh Desai will have to continue to sweat it out in the nets.
The poster boy in the side, Suyash Prabhudesai, started the First Class season with a classy 212 versus Rajasthan in Porvorim, but in his last four innings has aggregated a measly 44 runs. Number 4 batter Snehal Kauthankar made a fighting 49 in a second innings batting collapse against Pondicherry, and will look to make his next start count big. Save for captain and all-rounder Darshan Misal's consistency in the middle order with three half-centuries, no other batter has shown the stomach to apply themselves at the wicket, save for the odd innings.
Siddhesh Lad with a pair against Pondicherry is under much flak and his place is on a string with the likes of Deepraj Gaonkar waiting in the wings. Keeper-batsman Eknath Kerkar also needs to pull up his socks. The lower-order have made handy contributions through the season, but it will be up to the frontline batters to provide the impetus and bigger scores.
Goa's bowling attack is headlined by slow left-arm orthodox Misal with 15 wickets and the captain will look for consistent support from off-spinner Mohit Redkar, who has scalped 17 wickets in his first season, but was lacklustre in their last engagement. Pace spearhead Lakshay Garg, may have picked 11 wickets but he has appeared at best only under helpful conditions and with the new ball. But to his defence, he has barely found teeth from the other end. Left-arm fast-medium Arjun Tendulkar has been largely erratic in his line and length and needs to perform to merit a start in the playing XI. In conditions expected to favour pace, right-arm medium pacer Felix Alemao is expected to play in place of dropped Ruthvik Naik.
On the other hand, Services will look to their big guns in captain Rajat Paliwal and Rahul Singh Gahlaut to fire, after both failed in their last match. Incidentally, Paliwal and Gahlaut return to a venue where they have registered hundreds in their previous home fixture. Experienced right-arm pacer Diwesh Pathania may be their go-to bowler with 19 wickets in the season and a top performer over the years but he has been backed well by other pacers - Arpit Guleria (15 wickets) and Poonam Poonia (9 wickets in 3 matches), as also off-spinner Pulkit Narang (15 wickets).
