Goa captain Darshan Misal (95) guides a delivery to the third man boundary.
Photo Credits: Basil Sylvester Pinto
PANAJI
Captain Darshan Misal (95) and Lakshay Garg's (38) ninth-wicket association of 99 runs, the highest partnership in Goa's first innings played a pivotal role to ensure the home side would take a point in the third round of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C clash against Karnataka at the Academy ground in Porvorim on Friday.
Resuming at 321-8, with captain Misal on 66 and Garg on 20, Goa required an unlikely 133 runs to avert the follow-on. Garg departed when he was caught at second slip by Manish Pandey off Shubhang Hegde for 38 (83b, 128m, 5x4, 1x6) after putting on a gritty 99-run ninth-wicket stand with Misal. Goa captain was the last man out when his lofted shot off V Vyshak was caught by a diving S J Nikin Jose at deep midwicket. Misal's fine knock ended on 95 (172b, 224m, 15x4, 1x6) to culminate Goa's first essay at 373 in 121.5 overs.
With Goa trailing by 230 and 81 runs short of averting the follow-on, Karnataka captain Mayank Agarwal asked the home side to bat again in an effort for full points. He had at least 70 overs for an outright result in their favour.
Goa openers Amogh Desai (25) and Sumiran Amonkar (26) largely looked assured while at the wicket as Karnataka employed a pace-spin option with the new ball. Amonkar played an uncharacteristic run-a-ball 26 studded with four hits to the ropes, and was the first to fall to slow left-arm orthodox Hegde with Goa at 39/1 in the tenth over. Goa went to lunch at 64-1 in 17 overs with Amogh on 24 (54b, 5x4) and in-form Suyash Prabhudessai on 12 (24b, 2x4).
Shortly after lunch, Amogh's ambitious sweep attempt for a maximum resulted in his downfall as Vishal Onat gleefully accepted the catch at fine leg off offbreak bowler K Gowtham as Goa's score read 75-2 in the 19th over. Snehal Kauthankar was then trapped leg-before by V Vyshak for a score of 21(56b, 3x4, 1x6).
Goa were reduced to 115-3 in the 35th over and captain Misal promoted himself up the order. As a tame draw was imminent, Suyash dazzled on his happy hunting ground. Sixes off consecutive deliveries off Gowtham took Suyash to an exact 50 (72b, 121m, 6x4, 2x6) in the 38th over as Goa progressed to 137-3. Soon, with no other result possible, the teams shook hands at the stroke of tea with Suyash unbeaten on 61 (95b, 155m, 8x4, 2x6) and Misal on 10 (35b, 2x4) and Goa 150-3 in 45 overs in their second essay. Karnataka middle-order batter Manish Pandey was named the Man of the Match for his breathtaking 208*.
SCORES: Karnataka 1st inns 603-7 d in 148.2 overs (Manish Pandey 208*, R Samarth 140, Vishal Onat 91, Darshan Misal 3-145) vs Goa 1st inns 373 in 121.5 overs (Darshan Misal 95, Suyash Prabhudesai 87, V Vyshak 3-60), Goa 2nd inns 150-3 in 45 overs (Suyash Prabhudesai 61*)
