Venkata stars with five-wicket haul; visitors end Day 2 at 201/6
Kalyani: Goa produced a spirited fightback on Day 2 of their Cooch Behar Trophy Elite clash against Bengal, clawing their way back into the contest at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani.
After bowling Bengal out for 325—adding just 32 to their overnight 293/5—Goa closed the day at 201/6, trailing by 124 with two days still left.
The morning belonged to Goa’s bowlers, led by Chigurupati Venkata, who returned a standout 5/51. Shiven Borkar chipped in with 2/56, while Yash Kasvankar and Mihir Kudalkar picked up a wicket each as Goa capitalised on Bengal’s Day 1 errors.
Goa’s reply began promisingly with a 51-run opening stand between Aditya Kota and Sarthak Bhike. But the innings wobbled as Shaantanu Nevagi (14) and Dishank Misquin (1) fell in quick succession, reducing Goa to 86/4. Captain Yash steadied the slide with a fluent 39 off 47, striking five boundaries, before his dismissal—followed soon by Sai Naik (16)—left Goa in a tight spot at 151/6.
However, an assured, unbeaten 50-run partnership between Aradhya Goyal (36*) and Venkata (26*) lifted Goa to 201/6 and comfortably past the follow-on mark.
