The third day of the Ranji Trophy Plate Final between Goa and Nagaland at the Nagaland Cricket Stadium unfolded with Goa taking firm control of the match through a commanding batting display.
Nagaland began the day at 205/8 in 62 overs, trailing Goa by 71 runs, with Chetan Bist (17) and Nagaho Chishi (6) at the crease. However, their innings quickly came to an end, as the last three wickets fell in just 4.5 overs. Nagaland was bowled out for 216 in 66.5 overs, leaving them 60 runs behind.
Goa, resuming their second innings with a slender lead of 60, faced early setbacks. Nagaho Chishi and Jagadeesha Suchith struck early blows to reduce Goa to 33/2 in 18 overs. Despite the shaky start, Kashyap Bakhale and Snehal Kauthankar steadied the ship with a vital partnership.
By lunch, Goa had advanced to 95/3 in 40 overs, and the pair continued to dominate through the afternoon session. Bakhale showcased his class with an unbeaten century, reaching 101 off 213 balls*, while Kauthankar provided solid support with 78* off 174 balls. Their unbroken partnership powered Goa to 224/3 in 72 overs at stumps, extending their lead to 284 runs with seven wickets in hand.
With a lead of 284 runs, Goa is likely to aim for a target beyond 350 before declaring, putting the pressure squarely on Nagaland’s batters. For Nagaland, early wickets on Day 4 will be crucial to limit the damage and keep their hopes alive. Their batting lineup will need to step up to navigate a deteriorating pitch as they seek to save the match.
As the Ranji Trophy Plate Final heads into its fourth day, the stage is set for a gripping contest at the Nagaland Cricket Stadium.