PANAJI: Goa finished as runners up in the Under 19 Multi Day Siechem Trophy after suffering an 83 run defeat against Kerala in the tournament final at the Siechem CAP Ground 2 in Puducherry.
Kerala, after electing to bat, posted a competitive total of 302 in 83.4 overs. Arjun S. Hari anchored the innings with a superb 130 off 192 deliveries, while Jaydev J. Nair chipped in with 36 runs to strengthen the total.
Goa’s bowlers produced a disciplined effort despite the challenging conditions. Afrid was the standout performer with impressive figures of 4 for 31 in 15.4 overs. Om Khandolkar picked up three wickets, while Mihir Kudalkar claimed two to prevent Kerala from posting an even bigger score.
In reply, Goa’s chase of 303 got off to a disappointing start as early wickets put the team under pressure. Opener Aditya Kota stood firm and produced a determined century, scoring 107 from 163 balls with the help of 10 boundaries and a six. His innings kept Goa’s hopes alive, but he received little support from the rest of the batting line up.
Mihir Kudalkar contributed a useful 37, but no other batter was able to convert their start into a significant score as Goa was bowled out for 219 in 70.5 overs.
Kerala’s bowling attack was led by Thomas Mathew, who delivered a match winning performance by taking five wickets for 54 runs to seal the championship.
Despite the defeat in the final, Goa enjoyed an impressive tournament campaign. The team registered victories over Kerala and hosts Puducherry during the league stage, with its only defeat coming against Himachal Pradesh before reaching the title clash.
While the trophy slipped away, Goa’s consistent performances throughout the competition and Aditya Kota’s outstanding century in the final highlighted the promising talent within the state’s Under 19 cricket setup.