After the state government taking over the HPCA Dharamshala cricket stadium, the schedule match of Ranji Trophy Group C between host Himachal and Goa was delayed and started at 15:15.
Goa skipper Keenan Vaz won the toss and decided to ball first. His decision proved right, when Goa’s fast bowler Harshad Gadekar struck early and gets a wicket of experienced Sangram Singh for one in the second over of the match. Opener Prashant Chopra and senior Paras Dogra succeeded to add few more runs on board, but Chopra failed to negotiate Buddhadev Mangaldas quick and given catch to Amogh Sunil Desai. Copra made 40 in 39 balls with six fours and one maximum. After the wicket of Chopra team was struggling on 55 for 2 in 11.2 overs.
After that Paras Dogra and imported Abhinav Bali played cautiously and till the stump, Himachal team managed to score 137 in 27 overs. Tomorrow match will start on schedule time and to make up for lost time the match officials have decided to extend play by an hour every day.
It was learned that earlier match was cancelled but later resumed after Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President N Srinivasan intervened to sort out a political tug of war. The match started after the state government ministers GS Bali and Sudhir Sharma spoke to Srinivasan, who assured them of full cooperation in the matches at the venue.
