Jaffer, Satish put Vidarbha in winning position

Porvorim: Neither the elements — a few drizzles and bad light — that caused the loss of entire session nor some stout-hearted fielding and tight bowling are likely to help Goa avoid defeat against

Vidarbha

in their Ranji Trophy Group D match at the Academy ground,

Porvorim

.

At stumps on the third and penultimate day, the hosts were struggling at 19-2 in their second innings after Vidarbha declared their first innings on 427-3, taking a lead of 188 runs and then sending back opener Sumiran Amonkar and Prathamesh Gawas in nine overs made possible by an hour’s extension of play.

Riding on Wasim Jaffer’s unbeaten 158 — his 52nd first class century and an another unbeaten ton by Ganesh Satish (101), the visitors are well placed to secure an outright victory.

When umpires VA Kulkarni and Pashchim Pathak offered lights to the batsmen, Goa’s reliable opening batsman Swapnil Asnodkar (5) and night-watchman Vaibhav Naik (6) were at the crease.

It will take something special from Goa to score another 169 and make Vidarbha bat again. Earning a point from a draw which would entail batting out 98 overs is an imposing task and the likes of Asnodkar, Snehal Kauthankar, Amogh Desai, Darshan Misal and Keenan Vaz will need every ounce of application and experience to negotiate a deteriorating pitch on the final day.

Goa coach Prakash Mayekar, however, hasn’t lost hope. “We can save this game. Goa have got quality batsmen and they can survive 98 overs. If we don’t lose quick wickets in the morning session, we stand a good chance to see off the next two sessions. It won’t be easy but I am hopeful,” he said.

Vidarbha equalled Goa’s 239 in 103.2 overs after resuming on an overnight 199-2. Overcast conditions provided some hope for Goa’s seamers in their quest to rein in the visitors and right-arm medium pacers Heramb Parab and Felix Alemao kept it tight.

But once Vidarbha forged ahead, boosting the possibility of pocketing three points to take their tally to 24, they started scoring quickly at four runs an over in the next 39.4 overs. Jaffer was instrumental in forming two crucial partnerships — one of 87runs with Shalabh for the third wicket and an unbroken 171 for the fourth wicket with fellow-centurion Satish.

Jaffer hit two sixes off Parab, indicating their intent of scoring thick and fast. Satish joined the party and slammed three sixes off left-arm spinners Amulya Pandrekar and Darshan Misal and off-spinner Vaibhav Naik. It was a clinical performance by a well-balanced team who lead the seven-team group.

Shalabh Srivastava offered the day’s only chance and Felix Alemao was the bowler to agonize when the batsman edged past Asnodkar’s outstreched hands at first slip. Srivasta was on 23 at the time and was eventually out when part-time medium pacer Amogh Desai forced him to edge to wicketkeeper Keenan Vaz on 45.

SCOREBOARD

Goa (1st innings): 239

Vidarbha 1st innings (o/n 199-2): Faiz Fazal lbw Amulya Pandrekar 32, Sanjay Ramaswamy lbw Darshan Misal 87, Wasim Jaffer not out 158, Shalabh Shrivastava c Keenan Vaz b Amogh Desai 45, Ganesh Satish not out 101. Extras 4 (b 2, lb 1, w 1). Total 427-3 declared. (143 overs)

Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-169, 3-256.

Bowling: Heramb Parab 15-0-72-0, Felix Alemao 27-6-75-0, Vaibhav Naik 16-0-63-0, Amulya Pandrekar 43-13-92-1, Darshan Misal 33-7-100-1, Amogh Desai 9-1-22-1.

Goa (2nd innings): Sumiran Amonkar c Fazal b Sarvate 4, Swapnil Asnodkar batting 5, Prathamesh Gawas lbw Wakhare 4, Vaibhav Naik 6. Extras 0. Total: 19-2 (6 overs).

Bowling: Aditya Sarvate 3-2-4-1, Akshay Wakhare 3-1-15-1.