Sports

Goa Fall Short as Madhya Pradesh Clinch Thrilling Ranji Trophy Win by Three Wickets


Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

Goa suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of Madhya Pradesh by three wickets in their Ranji Trophy Group B encounter at the GCA Academy Ground in Porvorim. Despite entering the final day with hopes of dismissing the visitors by taking the remaining nine wickets, Goa could only manage six, as Madhya Pradesh successfully chased down a 328-run target in 94 overs, finishing at 7 for 328.

Resuming their innings at 21 for 1 on the fourth and final day, Madhya Pradesh’s openers Harsh Gawali and captain Himanshu Mantri extended the total to 49 before Arjun Tendulkar dismissed Mantri for 22, giving Goa their first breakthrough of the day. Gawali went on to complete a fine half-century, scoring 54 before falling to left-arm spinner Darshan Misal. His partnership of 57 runs with Shubham Sharma for the third wicket kept Madhya Pradesh steady in their pursuit.

Shubham Sharma, who top-scored with 72, added another crucial 70-run stand with Harpreet Singh Bhatia (35), putting Goa under increasing pressure. Off-spinner Lalit Yadav broke through twice in quick succession, dismissing both Harpreet and Sharma to reduce Madhya Pradesh to 176 for 4. Goa seemed to regain some control when they removed Rishabh Chauhan and Aryan Pandey, leaving the visitors wobbling at 263 for 7, still 65 runs away from victory.

However, Saransh Jain and Arshad Khan displayed composure under pressure, putting together an unbeaten partnership that sealed the match. Jain remained not out on 82, while Arshad contributed 25 as Madhya Pradesh reached the target with three wickets to spare.

For Goa, Lalit Yadav and Darshan Misal were the pick of the bowlers, claiming two wickets apiece. Arjun Tendulkar, V. Koushik, and Mohit Redkar chipped in with one each but were unable to make decisive breakthroughs on the final day.

With this result, Goa slipped to third place in the Group B standings with one win, one loss, and two draws from four matches, accumulating 11 points. They will next face Saurashtra at the Niranjan Shah Stadium Ground โ€˜Cโ€™ in Rajkot from November 16, hoping to bounce back strongly and reclaim their momentum in the domestic season.

Sports

Goa in Commanding Position Against Madhya Pradesh in Ranji Trophy Clash


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, Goaโ€™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 Goaโ€™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 Goaโ€™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 stateโ€™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 Goaโ€™s adaptability in a competitive contest.

Goaโ€™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.

Sports

Goa Tightens Control Over Madhya Pradesh in Ranji Trophy Group B Encounter


Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

Goa continued their impressive performance in the Ranji Trophy Group B clash against Madhya Pradesh, tightening their grip on the game at the Goa Cricket Association Academy Ground in Porvorim. After posting 284 in their first innings, Goaโ€™s bowlers struck early and often to leave Madhya Pradesh in deep trouble at 181 for 7 at stumps on the second day.

Resuming from their overnight score of 256 for 8, Goa added valuable runs through Deeparaj Gaonkar, who converted his unbeaten 30 into a composed half-century, scoring 51 before being dismissed. His steady innings helped Goa push their total to 284 before being bowled out. For Madhya Pradesh, off-spinner Saransh Jain was the standout performer with figures of 4 for 78, while left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya supported with 3 for 88. Aryan Pandey, Kuldeep Sen, and captain Shubham Sharma chipped in with a wicket each.

Madhya Pradeshโ€™s reply got off to a disastrous start as Goaโ€™s pace attack, spearheaded by Arjun Tendulkar and Koushik, wreaked havoc. Arjun dismissed Yash Dubey and Himanshu Mantri early, while Koushik removed Harsh Gawali and Harpreet Bhatia in quick succession to leave MP reeling at 38 for 4. The situation worsened when captain Shubham Sharma fell for 16, again to Koushik, reducing the visitors to a precarious 56 for 5.

Rishabh Chouhan and Saransh Jain offered brief resistance with a 54-run stand for the sixth wicket, followed by a 43-run partnership between Jain and Aryan Pandey, which prevented complete collapse. However, Goaโ€™s bowlers maintained pressure throughout, with Koushik finishing as the standout performer, claiming 3 for 33. Arjun Tendulkar backed him effectively with 2 for 34, while Lalit Yadav contributed with 2 for 22.

At stumps on Day 2, Madhya Pradesh trailed Goaโ€™s total by 103 runs with just three wickets in hand. The home side is now poised to claim a crucial first-innings lead as the match heads into the third day, continuing their impressive run in this Ranji Trophy season.

Sports

Ranji Trophy 2025: Goa Fight Back After Early Setbacks Against Madhya Pradesh on Day 1


Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

PANAJI: Goa made a solid start to their Ranji Trophy Elite โ€˜Bโ€™ Group match against Madhya Pradesh, finishing the first day at 256 for 8 despite a late collapse at the GCA Academy Ground in Porvorim on Saturday.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Goaโ€™s openers Manthan Khutkar (12) and Abhinav Tejrana (12) failed to convert their starts, leaving the side at an early disadvantage. The innings gained momentum when Suyash Prabhudessai and captain Snehal Kauthankar came together for a composed 87-run partnership for the third wicket, the highest of the innings. Prabhudessaiโ€™s fluent 65 and Kauthankarโ€™s steady 41 helped Goa recover from early jitters and build a solid platform.

Lalit Yadav (41) and Darshan Misal (44) also chipped in with important contributions in the middle order, but both missed out on well-deserved half-centuries. Their dismissals triggered a mini-collapse, as Goa slipped from a comfortable 213 for 4 to 256 for 8 by the end of the dayโ€™s play. At stumps, Deeparaj Gaonkar remained unbeaten on 30, while wicketkeeper Samar Dubhashi and V. Kaushik were yet to bat.

For Madhya Pradesh, off-spinner Saransh Jain was the standout performer, claiming 4 for 72 with disciplined bowling. Support came from Aryan Pandey, Kumar Kartikeya, Kuldeep Sen, and Shubham Sharma, each taking a wicket to keep the pressure on the hosts. Under the watchful eyes of coach Chandrakant Pandit, the MP bowlers maintained tight lines throughout the day.

Goa will resume play on Sunday aiming to cross the 300-run mark and strengthen their position in the match. With Gaonkar set at the crease, the team will be hoping for valuable contributions from the lower order to build a competitive first-innings total against a strong Madhya Pradesh bowling unit.

Sports

Goa Clinches Dominant Ranji Trophy Victory Over Chandigarh by an Innings and 75 Runs


Goaโ€™s Senior Menโ€™s Ranji Trophy team delivered an emphatic performance in their latest fixture, securing a commanding victory over Chandigarh by an innings and 75 runs at Porvorim. The dominant display saw key contributions from all departments, with standout performances from Lalit Yadav and Darshan Misal.

Lalit Yadav was adjudged Player of the Match for his exceptional all-round contribution. With the ball, Darshan Misal was the hero, claiming a total of eight wicketsโ€”three in the first innings and five in the secondโ€”effectively dismantling Chandigarhโ€™s batting order.

The teamโ€™s morale was high as they celebrated this crucial win alongside Goa Cricket Association (GCA) President Shri Mahesh Dessai, Secretary Shri Tulshidas Shetye, Vice President Paresh Fadte, Joint Secretary Anant Naik, Treasurer Abdul Majid, Head Coach Milap Mewada, and Assistant Coach Doda Ganesh. The presence of GCA leadership at the venue added to the sense of pride and encouragement for the players.

This victory not only boosts Goaโ€™s standing in the Ranji Trophy campaign but also reflects the growing strength and depth of cricketing talent in the state. The team earned seven points from the match, including a bonus point for the outright win.

Goa Cricket now moves forward with momentum and confidence for their upcoming matches in the tournament, aiming to build on this performance and make a strong bid in the domestic season.