A unbeaten 118 run opening stand between Prasad Reddy (32) and AmitPhatak (83) put Andhra in firm control of the proceedings on theopening day of the South Zone Ranji Trophy match against Goa at the DrRajendra Prasad Stadium at Margao on Thursday
Natarajan Sriram09-Nov-2000A unbeaten 118 run opening stand between Prasad Reddy (32) and AmitPhatak (83) put Andhra in firm control of the proceedings on theopening day of the South Zone Ranji Trophy match against Goa at the DrRajendra Prasad Stadium at Margao on Thursday. Earlier Goa werebundled out for just 163 in their first innings.Opting to bat, Goa were off to a bad start losing Vivek Kolankar (0),who ran himself out in the fifth over of the day. Goa’s recruit, TamilNadu Tanveer Jabbar (4) lasted just two overs. Failing to make anyimpact he departed in the seventh over, bowled by N Madhukar. But Goaskipper Pravin Amre (40) joined Anand Bhagwath (17) to take the scoreto 44. Avdoot Amonkar (12) was sent back to the pavilion soon after.Watekar then had Amre caught by Mohd Faiq. None of the other Goanbatsmen showed signs of staying long at the crease with the exceptionof Avinash Avare (33). The innings folded up in the 65th over withmost of the Andhra bowlers sharing the honours.When the Andhra innings commenced after an early tea, it was the turnof the openers to take over the proceedings, with Amit Phatak playingthe lead role. In an 108 minute stay he stamped his authority over thebowlers by scoring his runs off just 88 balls. During his unbeatenknock he found the boundary ropes 15 times.