Goa suffered a collapse and lost by 56 runs to Punjab in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Ranchi on Wednesday. This was the second defeat for Goa in the BCCI T20 tournament 2023-24 season and makes their last match against Saurashtra a must-win, although their fate is out of their hands. To progress to the knock-out phase, Goa will have to hope minnows Manipur beat Gujarat on Friday.
Punjab won the toss and scored 169/9, which proved too much for Goa as they were bowled out for 113 runs in 16.1 overs. Shubham Tari was once again very impressive with the pacer returning figures of 4/39 off his four overs.Tari has been on a wicket-taking spree throughout the tournament and the new find for Goa, adds the much needed depth in the bowling department for the season. Captain Darshan Misal picked up two wickets, while Lakshay Garg, Vikas Singh, Arjun Tendulkar took one wicket each.
Nehal Wadhera was the top-scoring batter for Punjab with 46 runs off 28 balls. Prabhsimran Singh (30) and captain Mandeep Singh (26) also contributed quickfire runs.
Although Goa seemed to have restricted Punjab to a moderately challenging total, their batters failed to rise to the occasion. The only exception was opener Ishaan Gadekar, who blazed 30-ball 51 runs with the help of eight boundaries and two sixes after fellow opener Rahul Tripathi was run out without facing a delivery. Suyash Prabhudesai made 35 runs off 27 balls (5×4, 1×6). Ishaan and Suyash raised 44 runs off 29 balls for the third wicket before Ishaan was out stumped off Mayank Markande (4/20) with Goa in the hunt at 70/3 in 8.1 overs.
Harpreet Brar (4/18) then dealt a double blow to Goa picking the wickets of captain Darshan and Deepraj Gaonkar off consecutive deliveries in the 10th over to reduce Goa to 81/5.
Arjun Tendulkar coming in at No 7 was out cheaply, while proven hard-hitting batter Tunish Sawkar (IP) walked in at ninth position and briefly rekindled hopes of a fightback hitting a sixer and a boundary in his 8-ball 11. But that was too little and while plenty of balls were yet to be bowled, Goan tail failed to wag.
https://www.bcci.tv/domestic/syed-mushtaq-ali-trophy-2023-24/match/103?s=08
