hosts fail to press home advantage on batsman-friendly track, visitors reach a comfortable 147/2 in reply
BASIL SYLVESTER PINTO
PANAJI
Jharkhand captain and opener MD Nazim led from the front with a blazing 69-ball 71 as the visitors reached 147/2 on Day 2 of the Rd IV Elite Group C Ranji Trophy match against Goa at GCA Academy ground, Porvorim
on Thursday.
The visitors after having Goa all out at 364, lost an early wicket in reply. Wicketkeeper-opener Sumit Kumar perished to pacer Vijesh Prabhudesai for no score in the third over with the team score on 13. Nazim was the other wicket to fall at the total of 92. At stumps, Utkarsh Singh was unbeaten on a laborious 35 (103b, 5x4) while former India player Saurabh Tiwary was batting on an aggressive 39 (45 balls, 4x4, 2x6).
Resuming from an overnight 237/2, Goa’s professional batsman Amit Verma succumbed to the risk of playing a shot too many against the short ball. Continuing from 131, Verma struck another three boundaries and a six to eventually get out to a shot of indiscretion on 154 (226b, 21x4, 3x6) to a short-pitched delivery from pacer Ashish Kumar.
From 260/3, the team went on a slide with most of the batsmen losing their wickets to rash strokes or lack of application. Snehal Kauthankar did not trouble the scorers becoming Kumar’s second victim out with a loose shot. Sumiran Amonkar’s doughty essay ended at 95 (281b, 15x4), out plumb in front against Ashish Kumar, who was on song with the new ball.
With the side at 273/5 and the wicket gradually easing out, the Goa batsmen failed to capitalise on the situation at hand. Suyash Prabhudessai, who was handed a First Class cap in only his previous game against Haryana in Lahli, stepped out to slow left arm debutant, Rahul Prasad to be stumped on 11. Vishamber Kahlon, getting an opportunity as an additional batsman at an expense of a speedster, played a poor shot to lose his wicket for 4.
Wicket-keeper Keenan Vaz played with grit and determination and found an able ally in Darshan Misal, who took guard with his team at a delicate 304/7. Keenan-Darshan forged a 52-run stand for the eighth wicket to give semblance to the total. Darshan was the next to go after making a patient 28 (93b, 4x4).
A handy batsman, Amulya Pandrekar -- included in this game for the injured pacer Krishna Das -- played a loose shot to be bowled for nought. Not long after, Keenan was the last batsman out an hour post lunch after making a determined 41 (109b, 2x4, 1x6). In the Jharkhand attack, pacer Ashish Kumar used the new ball to his advantage to have healthy returns of 3/71. Rahul Prasad, Utkarsh Singh and Anukul Roy claimed 2 wickets each.
Speaking to The Goan at the end of day’s play, Goa head coach, Prakash Mayenkar was highly critical of his team’s batting performance. “They did not play good cricket, especially Amit (Verma). Previous day he (Amit) had played well, applying himself. Today, he started playing all shots on short balls to subsequently lose his wicket to such a delivery in spite of fielders being particularly kept for that. I feel his wicket was the most important,” the Goa coach pointed out. “Apart from Sumiran who got out to a good ball when on 95, rest of the batsmen gave away their wickets.”
While the batting failed to deliver to a promise after an unbeaten 203-run stand of overnight pair in Amonkar and Verma, the bowling attack lacked teeth and control. “Our bowlers did not bowl to their field. They gave away too many loose balls which was dealt with on a patta wicket. They lacked discipline,” Mayenkar lamented.
