Jain University beat Bombay University to emerge champions

Manipal, Jan 6 (IANS) Jain University – Bangalore became the All-India Inter-Zone Cricket University champions with a resounding 82-run win over Bombay University in the final at the Manipal University ground here Sunday.

It was sweet revenge also for Jain who lost to Bombay in the semi-final last year. Chasing 336 to win, Bombay were all out for 253 in 78.3 overs.

The final was evenly poised with neither side having an edge. The only time Bombay seemed to be clawing to an advantage was when Pankaj Jaiswal and Shashank Singh came together for the sixth wicket.

From 155/5, they took the score to 222 when Shashank was dismissed by Samarth caught behind by Nihal Ullal for 32. With an important batsman back in the pavilion, Bombay had very little fight left in them.

Their start was much the same as the Jain innings Saturday. They lost two quick wickets, both accounted by medium pacer C.A. Karthik. But it did not rattle the confidence of the Bombay batsmen.

A 50-run partnership for the third wicket between Jaideep Pardeshi and Kevin Almeida steadied the innings. Kevin was trapped leg before by off-spinner Daniel Sequeira for 19 and Jaideep left 17 runs later, also trapped leg before by Shashindra for a well-made 53, including a six and four boundaries. Once he was gone, the Jain bowlers kept things tight and got another wicket of Siddesh Lad, 19, before Pankaj and Shashank came together.

All this while, Jain University captain Kaunain Abbas had to shuffle his bowlers at one end while retaining left-arm spinner Daniel from the other.

Pankaj and Shashank batted with determination and hit the bowlers all over the ground. To make matters a little difficult for Jain, Karthik dropped Pankaj twice at long off.

Both times he had to sprint some distance to get under the ball. Although he got to it, he failed to latch on.

Pankaj was the seventh to go with the score reading 233. The left-arm batsman tried to square-cut off-spinner Samarth and was bowled for 72 made, with two fours and a six.

Daniel took 3/88, Samarth 3/45 and Karthik 2/37 as the bowlers shared the wickets.

Samarth Ravi Kumar was declared the man of the match and the man of the series as well.

Brief scores: Jain University, Bangalore 335/7 in 90 overs and Bombay University 253 all out in 78.3 overs.

IANS 2013-01-06 18:38:02