Bombay Gym Talyarkhan Memorial cricket
Skipper Jay Bista led from the front and with responsible all-round performances guided MCA Colts to a convincing 58-run victory against last year’s runners-up Cricket Club of India in the second semi-final of the Nirlon Ltd. sponsored R.F.S. Talyarkhan Memorial Invitation Cricket Tournament 2018-2019, organized by Bombay Gymkhana, under the auspices of MCA and played at the Gymkhana’s ground on Friday evening.
After being sent in to bat first, opener Bista scored a quick fire 64 runs as MCA Colts posted a challenging total of 174 runs for the loss of four wickets from the stipulated 20 overs. Later, with the ball, Bista (2/18) picked up two crucial wickets and played the perfect supporting role to Tanush Kotian (4/25) and bundled out Cricket Club of India for a paltry 116 runs in 17.1 overs to secure their place in the final.
MCA Colts will challenge defending champions Parsee Gymkhana in the final on Sunday evening at 4.00pm.
Bista innings came from 42 balls and contained seven thumping hits to the boundary and one huge six. The captain Bista was associated in two useful partnerships which provided the impetus to their innings. First, Bista and Eknath Kerekar (14 runs) put on 67 runs for the first wicket in 6.3 overs and later, he and left-handed bat Yashasvi Jaiswal 56 runs (40b, 63m, 3×4, 2×6) put together 39 runs for the second wicket in 5.4 overs. After the dismissal of Bista, the young Jaiswal and Arman Jaffer (27 runs), added a quick 45 runs during their third wicket association in the middle.
Faced with a challenging target, the Cricket Club of India batsmen surrendered rather meekly. Except for Shashikant Kadam 32 (34b, 76m, 3×4, 1×6) and Vaibhav Mali 25 (13b, 17m, 2×4, 1×6) the other CCI batters fell to the guiles of the off break bowling from Kotian and Bista and went down without a fight.
Brief scores: MCA Colts 174 for 4 wickets, 20 overs (Jay Bista 64 (42b, 54m, 7×4, 1×6), Yashasvi Jaiswal 56 (40b, 63m, 3×4, 2×6); Arman Jaffer 27 (23b, 16m, 4×4); Karan Singh Nandey 1/15) beat Cricket Club of India 116 all out, 17.1 overs (Shashikant Kadam 32 (34b, 76m, 3×4, 1×6), Vaibhav Mali 25 (13b, 17m, 2×4, 1×6); Tanush Kotian 4/25, Jay Bista 2/18, Dhrumil Matkar 2/15)
Result: MCA Colts won by 58 runs.