Tag: Cooch Behar Trophy

Sports

Goa Enter Knockouts After Resolute Stand Against Bengal

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

Goa entered the knockout stage of the Cooch Behar Trophy Elite cricket tournament after holding Bengal to a hard-fought draw on Thursday, extending their unbeaten run in Group ‘D’. With three wins and one draw from four matches, Goa now stand at an impressive 23 points, securing qualification with one league match still remaining. The match, played at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani, showcased Goa’s discipline, determination, and ability to stand strong against one of the tournament’s toughest sides.

Bengal declared their second innings at 255 for 9 in 43 overs, setting Goa a challenging target of 229 runs. With the pitch favouring the bowlers and time running out, Goa approached the chase with caution and composure. They finished at 126 for 6 in 74.5 overs, ensuring the match ended in a draw and earning a valuable three points. Bengal settled for one.

Resuming from their overnight score of 185 for 4, Bengal added 70 runs in 12 overs but lost five wickets in the process. Goa’s bowlers delivered a disciplined performance, with Chigurupati Venkata leading the attack by taking 3 wickets for 58 runs. Shiven Borker supported well with figures of 2 for 52, while Mihir Kudalkar claimed a wicket. Bengal also suffered three run-outs, which helped Goa tighten their grip at crucial moments.

In Goa’s second innings, skipper Yash Kasvankar anchored the batting with a fighting 43 off 98 balls, hitting six boundaries in an innings defined by patience and responsibility. Opener Sarthak Bhike contributed a determined 30 off 130 balls, blunting Bengal’s attack and consuming valuable time. Shantanu Nevagi and Dishank Misquin played important supporting roles despite low scores, holding their wickets when the team needed stability the most. Aradhya Goyal remained unbeaten on 11 off 57 balls, while Mihir Kudalkar and Sai Naik ensured Goa did not crumble under pressure in the final session. For Bengal, Rohit Das and Rohit took two wickets each.

Earlier in the match, Bengal had posted 325 in 100.1 overs in their first innings. Goa responded strongly with 352 in 113.3 overs, gaining an important 27-run lead that played a crucial role in the final outcome. With momentum on their side and confidence running high, Goa now prepare for their final Group D match against Chandigarh on December 16.

The draw against Bengal reflects Goa’s growing maturity, depth, and resilience as a team. Their qualification for the knockouts highlights their consistent performances throughout the tournament and sets the stage for an exciting next phase as they chase greater glory.

Sports

Goa Takes Early Lead Over Uttar Pradesh in Cooch Behar Trophy; Mihir Kudalkar Shines with 5-Wicket Haul

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

Panaji: The Goa U-19 team made a commanding start in the Cooch Behar Trophy Elite four-day match against Uttar Pradesh, beginning Monday at the Sanguem Cricket Ground. Uttar Pradesh were bowled out for a modest 125 in 42.4 overs, setting the stage for Goa to take an early advantage. The star of the day was Mihir Kudalkar, whose sensational bowling spell yielded 5 wickets for just 10 runs, dismantling the UP batting order. Chigurupati Venkata supported with 3 wickets for 32, while captain Yash Kasvankar (1/25) and Shiven Borkar (1/15) provided timely breakthroughs.

For Uttar Pradesh, Bhavi Sharma was the lone resistance, scoring a well-fought 61 off 84 balls, including six boundaries and a six, while opener Anmol Nushran contributed 34. The UP innings collapsed dramatically from 85/2 to 86/4, and wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.

Goa responded confidently, ending Day 1 at 142/3 in 39 overs, 17 runs ahead of UP’s total. After losing opener Sarthak Bhike for 10, Aditya Kota (48) and Shantanu Nevagi (28) built a 45-run stand for the second wicket. Later, Aditya joined captain Yash Kasvankar, who remained unbeaten on 52 from 56 balls with six boundaries and a six, for a crucial 67-run partnership to push Goa into the lead. At stumps, Mihir Kudalkar remained unbeaten at the crease alongside his skipper. For UP, Yash and Aditya managed to claim one wicket each.

Goa will aim to extend their first-innings lead on Day 2, looking to solidify their dominant position in the match.

Sports

GCA Announces Cash Rewards Following Goa U-19’s Dominant Cooch Behar Wins

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

The Goa Cricket Association has announced special cash rewards for the Goa U-19 cricket team and its support staff following their commanding innings victory over Assam in the Cooch Behar Elite Cricket Tournament. The decision comes on the back of two consecutive innings wins, marking one of the most impressive starts by the state in recent years. GCA President Mahesh Dessai, along with the Managing Committee, confirmed that a cash prize of ₹1 lakh will be awarded to Yash Kasvankar for his extraordinary knock of 243 in the opening match against Chhattisgarh, a performance that not only set the foundation for the first innings victory of Goa’s campaign but also gave the team early momentum in the tournament.

In appreciation of consistent all-round displays, each Goa player will receive ₹50,000, while the support staff will be rewarded with ₹25,000 each for their instrumental role in preparing and backing the young squad. Against Assam, Goa’s bowlers delivered a ruthless performance, dismissing the opposition for just 75 runs in the first innings and enforcing the follow-on before bowling them out again for 86. The match wrapped up in two and a half days, giving Goa their second straight innings victory and earning them seven points, including a bonus. With 14 points from two matches, Goa now stands joint-second in Elite Group D alongside Bengal.

The victory was built on disciplined bowling and important contributions with the bat. Dishank Misquin scored a valuable 88 in Goa’s only innings, while Mihir Kudalkar produced remarkable figures of 3 for 0 in the first innings and 4 for 9 in the second. Samarth Rane, Chigurupati Venkata, Shiven Borkar and Yash Kasvankar also chipped in with key wickets to ensure a dominant finish. GCA President Mahesh Dessai expressed immense pride in the team’s performances, praising their discipline and determination and acknowledging the crucial role of the support staff. He highlighted that Yash’s 243 will remain a standout moment of the season but emphasized that the team’s collective spirit has been the true driving force behind their success. With back-to-back innings wins over Chhattisgarh and Assam, Goa heads into their next fixture against Uttar Pradesh with confidence and growing belief in their abilities as they continue their impressive run in the tournament.