PANAJI
It has been a good solid start by Goa in the new Ranji season under the leadership of new captain and new coach. After three games, Goa is lying on top of the points table in their Ranji Trophy Elite B group.
Goa has won 1 game and drew 2 matches to secure 11 points. Karnataka also has 11 points, but occupy second position as Goa has a better quotient (1.694) compared to Karnataka (1.595).
In its first game, Goa thrashed Chandigarh by an innings and 75 runs at Porvorim thanks to double centuries by Lalit Yadav (213) and Abhinav Tejrana (205) and Mohit Redkar’s (8/151) eight-wicket match haul. In fact, Yadav and Tejrana put on a record 309 run-partnership for the fourth wicket.
Goa piled up a massive 566 in their first innings and then bowled out Chandigarh for 137 and 354 to score a big win.
The victory gave Goa 7 points including a bonus point on virtue of their innings win. Lalit Yadav was declared ‘Player of the Match’ for his double hundred (213) and four-wicket match haul (4/53).
In the second game, Goa did well to secure a draw against former champions and formidable opponents Karnataka on their home ground at Shimoga.
Riding on Karun Nair’s unbeaten knock of 174, Karnataka scored 371 in their first innings. In reply, Goa managed just 217. However, in the second innings, Goa showed a lot of improvement to score 143/1 thanks to a fighting knock by Abhinav Tejrana (73 not out) and Manthan Khutkar (55 not out) and their unbeaten 123 run-stand.
Karnataka got 3 points on virtue of their first innings lead while Goa had to settle for 1 point.
Karun Nair (174 not out) was declared ‘Player of the Match’.
The third game against Punjab at New Chandigarh also ended in a draw. But, Goa did well in this match against the former champions to secure first innings lead.
After Punjab were bowled out for 325, Goa piled up 494/6 declared in their first innings thanks to centuries by Suyash Prabhudesai (149) and Abhinav Tejrana (131). During that match, Prabhudesai and Manthan Khutkar (86) was involved in 222 run-stand for the opening wicket. Then, Abhinav Tejrana and skipper Snehal Kauthankar (78) put on 142 runs partnership for the third wicket.
The match ended in a draw as Punjab scored 179/4 in their second innings. Darshan Mishal (5/127) took five wickets in that match.
Goa secured 3 points on virtue of their first innings lead while Punjab got 1 point.
Suyash Prabhudesai (149) was declared ‘Player of the Match’.
Much of the credit to Goa’s performance so far must go to its new coach Milap Mewada, new captain Snehal Kauthankar and also to Deepraj Gaonkar who led the team in the absence of Kauthankar in the first game.
Goa’s leading run-getters - Abhinav Tejrana (427 runs), Lalit Yadav (270 runs), Suyash Prabhudesai (221 runs) and leading wicket-taker Darshan Misal (15 wickets) have also contributed immensely to the team’s performance.
If Goa need to qualify for the knock-out stage, it needs to keep the momentum going in the remaining four matches. Afterall, only top-two sides from the group will advance to the quarter-final.
Goa has four games remaining – two home and two away. They will play against Madhya Pradesh (Nov 08 -11) and Kerala (29 Jan – 01 Feb) at home and will face Saurashtra (Nov 16 – 19) and Maharashtra (Jan 22 – 25) in away games.
