Kerala gains 16-run first inning lead over Goa, Sony C shines

Margao, Dec 18 (UNI) Medium Pacer Sony Cheruvathoor's five-wicket haul enabled Kerala to skittle out Goa for 205 in reply to their total of 221 and gain a vital 16-run first inning lead on the second day of the four-day Ranji Trophy Cricket Plate Group match being played here at MCC ground today.

Kerala, in its second inning were at 41 for no loss in 11 overs at the close of the play with S Suresh not out at 15 and S Ramesh not out at 20 was at the crease with this visitors gained a overall lead of 57 runs.

Goa, chasing to surpass visitors total of 221, made a disastrous start as its top three batsmen failed to negotiate the pace attack from Sony and collapsed like a pack of cards. Opener Sagun Kamat (2), Swapnil Asnodkar (17) Anup Kolamkar (0) and Nikhil Haldipur (20) fell cheaply with a score on the board four for 65.

Goa, which was in deep waters from the start, Rohit Asnodkar and wicketkeeper batsman Damodar Redkar both played cautiously and steadied the innings to raise its total 123 for five and duo added 58 runs for the fifth wicket before Redkar was caught by Deepak off a bowling off Sony on 14. Rohit, who was shaping up well, lost his cool and was trapped leg before the wicket by Prashant on his individual score of 64 studded with 12 hits to the fence and came off 139 balls and 171 minutes.

Later, host wickets fell at regular intervals and Goa were all out with a total score of 205 in 69. Four overs and 17 runs short to surpass the visitors total.

The highlight in the Goa's inning was brilliant 64 by Rohit Asnodkar, which brought some respectibility to its total.

Sony C was the most successful bowlers for Kerala, having claimed five wickets canceding 60 runs. S Suresh bagged two wickets giving away 69 runs.

Earlier, Kerala resuming its overnight score of 204 for 8 folded its first inning with a total score of 221 all out in 94.2 overs adding only 17 runs to the total.

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