Middle-order batsman scores unbeaten 106 to hold the innings together
the goan I network
PANAJI
Goa continued from where they left off to move slowly to 422/7 on Day 2 against Jammu & Kashmir in their Round II match of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C at GCA Academy ground, Porvorim on Tuesday.
Middle-order batsman Snehal Kauthankar was yet another State batsman returning to form, registering only his third hundred in his 21st First Class match. The 23-year-old was batting on 106 from 193 deliveries (16 boundaries) when stumps were drawn on the second day. Keeping him company was Lakshay
Garg on 3.
Resuming on 216/2, Goa professional Amit Verma (on an overnight 37) looked in good nick before a good delivery from medium pacer Umar Nazir claimed his prized wicket for 71 (98b, 11x4) with the team score on 254/3. Sixteen balls later with only a run added, opener Sumiran Amonkar was found just short of his crease by an alert Ahmad Omar Banday for 73 (357b, 9x4, 1x6), adding only four runs to his previous
day’s score.
From 216/2, Goa had suddenly slumped to 255/4 with a lot of repair work to do and two new men at the wicket. Right-handed Kauthankar found an ally in all-rounder Darshan Misal and their 45-run fifth wicket-stand took the score to an exact 300 before Misal played a bad shot to lose his wicket to slow left-arm bowler Aamir Aziz for an obdurate 18 (73b, 3x4).
Keeper Samar Dubhashi could not keep the scoreboard moving but played out 35 balls before he was snapped by Aziz with just 18 runs added to the team score. Capable lower-order batsman Amulya Pandrekar joined Kauthankar to forge a significant 98-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Against the run of play, a defiant Pandrekar on 38 (89b, 6x4), lost his wicket to former India pacer
Irfan Pathan.
