Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk
Goa took a decisive step toward victory in their Ranji Trophy Group B match against Madhya Pradesh at the Goa Cricket Association Academy Ground in Porvorim. After establishing a vital 97-run first-innings lead, Goa’s bowlers, led by V. Koushik, maintained firm control over proceedings. Madhya Pradesh, resuming their innings at 181 for 7, could add only six more runs before being bowled out for 187 in reply to Goa’s 284. Koushik was the standout performer with a five-wicket haul for just 34 runs in 19 overs, including six maidens. Arjun Tendulkar and Lalit Yadav also made important contributions with two wickets each.
In their second innings, Goa batted confidently to post 230 runs in 65.4 overs, setting Madhya Pradesh a challenging target of 328. Abhinav Tejarana led the scoring with a composed 69, while Lalit Yadav made 42 and Rajshekhar Harikant added 40. Captain Snehal Kauthankar contributed a steady 23. The crucial 78-run partnership between Abhinav and Lalit for the fourth wicket provided the backbone of Goa’s innings. For Madhya Pradesh, Kumar Kartikeya bowled tirelessly, finishing with figures of 5 for 81, supported by Md Arshad Khan with three wickets and Saransh Jain with two.
At the close of the third day, Madhya Pradesh had reached 21 for 1 in 10 overs, still needing 307 runs for victory on the final day. Goa, with nine wickets to claim, are within touching distance of a memorable triumph.
In a notable first for the Goa team, Rajshekhar Harikant became the state’s first concussion substitute in Ranji Trophy history, replacing Samar Dubhashi, who was struck on the helmet by a delivery from Kuldeep Sen. The incident underscored the growing emphasis on player safety in domestic cricket and highlighted Goa’s adaptability in a competitive contest.
Goa’s balanced performance across departments has put them in pole position to seal a vital win and strengthen their standing in the Ranji Trophy Group B table.
