The 17-Year old rookie pace sensation of J&K, Rasikh Salam, on Monday produced a brilliant spell, as he took six-wicket haul to help J&K bundle out Goa for 182 runs in their first inning on the first day of Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy match at Govt. Gandhi Memorial Science College ground, Jammu.
After opting to bat first, visitors were rattled early by Rasikh as they were reduced to five wickets down for the score of only 16 runs. Rasikh accumulated all the five wickets. It was the jolt from which Goa never recovered with whole team getting all out for 182 runs in 65.3 overs. In reply, at the end of day’s play, J&K were 63 for the loss of three wickets, trailing Goa total by 119 runs.
Earlier, Rasikh who recently was called by Mumbai Indians for the Indian Premier League trials, gave J&K breakthrough in the third over of the day by removing opener GB Kambli for a duck and in the same over got the wicket of Rahul Mehta who scored two. The double strike by Rasikh reduced Goa to six runs with two wickets down after three overs.
In the fifth over of the day, Rasikh took his third wicket by hitting stumps of Piyush Yadav and in his next over took wicket of Shubham Gajinkar. Rasikh completed his five wicket haul by getting wicket of Mohit Redkar. His fiery five-wicket haul left Goa reeling on 16 for the loss of five wickets after 11 overs.
After that Alam Khan and Udit Yadav stabilized Goa innings for a while but Khan got out after scoring 35. Govind Sharma took wicket of Khan leaving Goa on 68 with six wickets down. The next in batsman Shanu Vantumari couldn’t stay in middle for much as he became first victim of Javed Ahmad. After that there was 62-run stand between Udit Yadav and Ruthvik Naik and the duo took Goa score to 139 runs. It was again Rasikh Salam who came to the rescue, breaking the solid looking partnership. He rattled the stumps of Ruthvik Naik, leaving Goa inning on 148 for the loss of eight wickets. Naik scored 48 runs. Yadav who was still in the middle tried to carry the inning as much forward as he could forming some valuable partnerships with last two wickets. He added another 43 runs with last two wickets to the Goa total.
Goa were all out for 182 runs with Udit Yadav remaining unbeaten on 66 run knock. For J&K Rasikh took six wicket haul while as Javed Ahmad took two. Govind Sharma took one wicket.
In reply J&K were 63 for the loss of three wickets in their inning at the end of first day’s play. Qamran Iqbal gave J&K an excellent start scoring 36 off 39 balls but couldn’t carry his inning forward. Abdul Samad and Jiyaad Magrey were other batsmen who got out for J&K. J&K still trial Goa by 119 runs with seven wickets in hand.
Rasikh was the star of the day for hosts J&K taking six-wickets in his 15.3 overs. He bowled six maidens and gave only 39 runs.
