Goa's left-arm pacer Arjun Tendulkar's four-fer and
centuries from opener Snehal Kauthankar and Suyash Prabhudessai helped them
register a massive 232-run win over Nagaland at Dadoji Konddev Stadium, Thane
on December 1. This was Goa's first win in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023
after facing three consecutive defeats.
Nagaland skipper Rongsen Jonathan won the toss and chose to
bowl first. Goa got off to an ideal start. They shared a 113-run opening
partnership. Jonathan R broke the opening partnership with the wicket of Ishaan
Gadekar who scored 54 runs from 73 balls. After the first wicket, Kauthankar
and Prabhudessai shared a 159-run partnership. Kauthankar departed after
scoring his century. He scored 114 runs from 118 balls featuring 10 fours and a
six. Chopsie Hopongkyu dismissed him in the 42nd over.
Prabhudessai was destructive in the last 10 overs. Skipper
Darshan Misal contributed with a 6-ball 16 before becoming Hopongkyu's second
victim of the day. Rahul Tripathi contributed with a 16-ball 36 cameo featuring
three fours and as many sixes. Nagaho Chishi struck twice in the penultimate
over to dismiss Tripathi and wicketkeeper-batter Krishnamurthy Siddharth.
Hopongkyu got Deeprak Gaonkar's wicket off the penultimate ball of the innings.
Prabhudessai remained unbeaten for 132 off 81 balls including nine fours and
six sixes. Goa posted 383/6 on the board.
Nagaland openers were cautious against the new ball. Lakshay
Garg drew first blood with the wicket of Joshua Ozukum. In the seventh over,
Arjun dismissed Sedezhalie Rupero for a single-digit score. A few overs later,
he got the better of wicketkeeper-batter Sumit Kumar. Shamwang Wangnao tried to
soak up the pressure but struggled to rotate the strike. Left-arm spinner Misal
introduced himself in the attack and ended Wangnao’s stay at the crease. Vijesh
Prabhudessai then got the wicket of Hoakaito Zhimomi for a golden duck.
Nagaland were reduced to 40/5 in the 15th over.
Jonathan and Jaganath Sinivas tried to do some damage
control. Sinivas hit a few boundaries before getting bowled by Mohit Redkar.
Imliwati Lemtur tried to provide support to his skipper. Jonathan did the bulk
of scoring in the partnership. Arjun came back into the attack to dismiss
Lemtur. Jonathan completed his half-century. However, he could not prevent
Nagaland from getting bowled out. Arjun got his wicket as well. The Nagaland
skipper scored 55 runs from 70 balls including just one six. Nagaland were
bowled out for 151 in 39.1 overs as Goa won the match by 232 runs.