Mohit Redkar and Darshan Misal wreak havoc as Goa stage dramatic fightback

Spin Twins Mohit Redkar (R) with 5-70 and Darshan Misal (4-77) weave their magic as Goa stay alive in the contest.

Photo Credits: Basil Sylvester Pinto

PANAJI

Goa's spin twins, Right arm Offbreak Mohit Redkar and Slow Left arm Orthodox Darshan Misal weaved their magic in tandem against a much-vaunted Tamil Nadu line-up in a fifth round Ranji Trophy Elite Group clash to inspire a resurgence as the home side restored parity at the GCA Academy Ground in Porvorim on Saturday.

Tamil Nadu resuming at 20-0 slowly but steadily built a foundation. With the introduction of spin into the attack, things began to alter to an extent. Goa captain Darshan Misal induced debutant opener S Lokeshwar on 25 to a false shot as Manthan Khutkar at silly point took a smart catch and the visitors lost their first wicket on 57 in the 20th over.

Meanwhile, Right arm Medium Deepraj Gaonkar bowled with nagging accuracy in a niggardly seven-over burst and particularly troubled opener, N Jagadeesan fresh from back-to-back daddy hundreds (245* and 321), and one-down Pradosh Ranjan Paul as well. The pair endured these testing moments to see off a probing Deepraj from the attack. Against the run of play, and in comeback pacer Lakshay Garg's new spell, N Jagadessan on 52 had the fortitude of holding his ground as the nick to the keeper was ruled not out with the bowler having overstepped. The visitors grinded it out to lunch without any further loss to sit pretty at 111-1 in 40 overs with N. Jagadeesan on 54 and Pradosh on 23.

Misal provided the much needed breakthrough for the home side when N Jagadeesan on 75 (153b, 3x4) went on his haunches to a ball that kept low and kissed the stumps. N Jagadeesan along with Pradosh had an equal share in stitching a significant 98-run second wicket stand. A third-wicket could have fallen with an addition of another 13 runs and 168 runs on the scorecard, if only the fielding side had the presence of mind to seize a run out opportunity. Pradosh on 56 could have been found short of his ground at the striker's end if not for the keeper Samar Dubhashi not making a hash of the opportunity with a ball received from Deepraj at cover point.

The young southpaw added another 15 runs to his score when he was undone by the sharp turn that took the inside edge off slow bowler Mohit Redkar and was adjudged leg before. Pradosh compiled a patient 71 (134b, 10x4) and with his departure at 195-3 in the 63rd over, the visitors still had their noses in front. But with Goa's spin twins, Redkar and Darshan Misal bowling sustained long spells and having spun a web around the batters with their guile and craft in weathered conditions, there was still hope for a fightback.

While seasoned campaigner Vijay Shankar looked assured at one end, Baba Indrajith at the other was ill at ease. Indrajith was lucky to survive on 10 with Manthan Khutkar at short cover, grassing the chance. Tamil Nadu went to tea at 222-3 in 70 overs with Vijay Shankar on 14 and Indrajith on 20.

But a script akin to the home side the previous day was to unfold with the visitors post the break, Goa captain Darshan Misal initiated the collapse, scalping Indrajith for 24 as Tamil Nadu slid to 235-4. Boopathi Vaishna Kumar did not trouble the scorers and was caught by Deepraj Gaonkar at second slip off an on song, Mohit Redkar. Tamil Nadu captain Sai Kishore could only make 1, and was involved in a mix-up with Vijay Shankar who played the ball to short fine leg, where a lurking K V Siddarth swooped up the ball and directed it towards the non striker's end, where the batter was found well short of his ground. Redkar took the next two wickets of M Mohammed and Ajith Ram for blobs as the visitors were left gasping at 240-8 in the 79th over. Sandeep Warrier, at 10 played a hand in Tamil Nadu taking the first innings lead adding 17 runs for the ninth wicket with Vijay Shankar. Warrier contributed 5, as Misal joined his spin twin on a 4-fer. Meanwhile, middle-order batter Vijay Shankar brought up a well-deserved 50 with a smack down the ground for a maximum off Redkar. The Goan offie had the last laugh in his ensuing over with Vijay Shankar holing out to K V Siddarth at deep mid wicket for a well-made 54 (98b, 5x4, 1x6) as Redkar completed his third 5-fer in his 12th First Class game. Tamil Nadu folded up for 273 to secure a handy 32-run lead.

After the changeover, Goa in their second dig negotiated the four overs to stumps at 10 for no loss with Ishaan Gadekar on 7 and Suyash Prabhudessai on 3, to trail the visitors by 22 runs.

BRIEF SCORE

> Goa, 1st innings. 241 in 75.5 overs (Suyash Prabhudessai 104, K V Siddharth 69; Sai Kishore 4-73, Ajith Ram 3-46) & 2nd innings. 10-0 in 4 overs vs Tamil Nadu, 1st innings. 273 in 90.2 overs (N Jagadeesan 75, Pradosh Ranjan Paul 71, Vijay Shankar 54; Mohit Redkar 5-70, Darshan Misal 4-77)