‘Sad, but we’ll fight’

Prithvi Shaw amp Co found themselves in deep trouble as Mumbai collapsed for just 163 in 524 overs against Goa in the first innings of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match at Ahmedabad on ThursdayGoa who are playing their maiden firstclass game against the former champions were on 1142 at stumps on Day One trailing by 49 runsOpting to bat at the Narendra Modi Stadium Mumbai lost openers Shaw 9 Aakarshit Gomel 21 and No4 Ajinkya Rahane 0 with the scoreboard reading 303 by the 10th over Sarfaraz Khan who scored a massive 275 against Saurashtra at the same stadium a few days ago tried his best with a fighting 63 including nine fours Offspinner Tanush Kotian 30 off 38 balls and onedrop Sachin Yadav 27 off 87 balls were the only two other batsmen who made some effort to stay at the wicket Fifer for LakshyaFor Goa young pacer Lakshya Garg 26 came up with his best figures of 646 Offspinner Amit Yadav 32 supported him well claiming 447Sarfaraz was obviously disappointed with Mumbairsquos performance ldquoItrsquos very disappointing I felt really sad because only a few days ago we beat Ranji Trophy champions Saurashtra So now to struggle against a team like Goa is very sadrdquo Sarfaraz told middayWith wickets falling around him Sarfaraz was compelled to go for his shots and consequently fell while attempting a sweep off Garg only managing to sky a catch to wicketkeeper Eknath Kerkar insteadldquoSometimes runs are not that important itrsquos more important to stay at the wicket But when I saw three four wickets fall I decided to go for my shots and lost my wicket Else I could easily have got another hundred had I played patientlyrdquo added Sarfaraz who was dismissed with the score reading 1237The attacking batsman however is optimistic that Mumbai will fight back ldquoWe Mumbai mare known to be fighters so we will make a strong comeback Itrsquos up to our bowlers to make it count Irsquom confident we will bounce back in this gamerdquo he said Garg meanwhile was a happy man having executed his plans against Shaw and Rahane perfectly ldquoI have achieved my target Last night Wednesday I was visualising how I would bowl to Prithvi and Ajinkya I was visualising in what areas I would bowl to them to try and put them under pressure and it workedrdquo Garg revealedBowling to a planldquoI tried to bowl dot balls to Prithvi and work on his patience I had four dot balls and then one inswinger which he played at and got out caught by Darshan Misal in second slip While bowling to Ajinkya my first ball was a bouncer which he ducked He left the second one and the third was a sharp inswinger which he tried to leave but it struck him on the pads and I got the big one I will remember that dismissal for a long timerdquo added Garg Surprisingly allrounder Shivam Dube and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal who were not part of the playing XI against Saurashtra have been left out for this match tooBrief scoresMumbai 163 Sarfaraz 63 T Kotian 30 L Garg 646 A Yadav 447 v Goa 1142 A Desai 51 S Prabhudessai 40