PANAJI
Goa concluded their U-23 Men's State A Trophy Elite campaign with a tough defeat, going down to a formidable Mumbai outfit by 172 runs on Friday. Chasing Mumbai's imposing 9/359, Goa were bowled out for 187 in 35.1 overs.
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Goa initially aimed to make early inroads, but Mumbai capitalised well on batting-friendly conditions. Openers Angkrish Raghuvanshi (61) and Sumeir Zaveri (64) provided a solid 89-run stand. In the middle order, wicketkeeper Prateek Yadav contributed 59 runs.
The highlight of Mumbai's innings, however, was Ayaz Khan's explosive unbeaten 99 off just 41 balls, including 11 sixes and 3 fours. Despite the onslaught, Goa's bowlers fought hard. Kutbuddin Jamadar picked up 2 wickets in his 9 overs, though he proved expensive. Jeevankumar Chittem (2/55), Lakhmesh Pawne (2/60), Anuj Yadav (1/55), Manish Kakode (1/68), and Aman Dhooper (1/14) also claimed wickets at regular intervals.
Chasing a massive target, Goa showed patches of resistance. Young Aryan Narvekar impressed with a confident half-century, scoring 53 off 49 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes. Lower down the order, Anuj Yadav added a valuable 34 off 38 deliveries, helping delay the inevitable and giving Goa some positives to take forward.
For Mumbai, Rohan led the attack with 3 wickets, while Rishikesh Gore and Prince Badiani took 2 each. Atharva and Parikshit chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Placed in Group B, Goa finished the tournament with 1 win and 6 losses. Although results did not go their way, the team gained valuable experience against elite competition, a foundation they will look to build upon in upcoming seasons.
