Skipper Bista slams ton on a winning cause

By Ashok Dhamija

Captain and opening bat Jay Bista ton helped Jain Irrigation defeat Bank of Baroda Sports Club by a convincing 51 runs in the MCA Corporate 'A' Division semi-final match, after posting an imposing total of 216 for the loss of four wickets in their allotted 20 overs at the Dr. D.Y. Patil SA ground, Nerul on Tuesday.

The Mumbai Ranji player Bista batted aggressively from the outset and scored 122 off 55-ball that was studded with eleven sweetly-timed boundaries and nine powerfully struck sixes, after his team was invited to bat first by the Bankers. He along with his opening partner Shahshwat Jagtap added 114 runs for the first wicket in 11.2 overs which set the tone for their big total. Later, Bista and number four bat Sairaj Patil who scored a quick fire unbeaten 48 runs off 21-balls with three hits to the fence and four over it. The duo added 56 runs for the third wicket in four overs to swell their team's score line past the 200 runs mark.

In reply, Bank of Baroda started positively with opening bat Chetan Bisht leading the fight with 63 runs off 43 balls which included six fours and three massive sixes, but failed to receive much support from the other batter, with the exception of Shivkumar Rakshit. The duo added 45 runs partnership for the fourth wicket with the later scoring 15 runs. Jain Irrigations left-arm medium pacer Royston Dias (3/15) also a Mumbai Ranji player struck crucial blows at regular intervals and was well supported by fellow pacer Sairaj Patil (2/30) and left-arm spinner Ayush Zimare (2/38) as they bowled out BoB for 165 in 18 overs itself for a place in the final.

Brief scores (Semi-final):

Jain Irrigation System Ltd - 216 for 4 in 20 overs (Jay Bista 122, Sairaj Patil 48*, Shashwat Jagtap 24) beat Bank of Baroda - 165 all out in 18 overs (Chetan Bisht 63, Jay Jain 38; Royston Dias 3/15, Sairaj Patil 2/30, Ayush Zimare 2/38) by 51 runs.