Jain University, Bangalore lift Rohinton Baria trophy

MANIPAL: Jain University, Bangalore is the new custodian of Rohinton Baria trophy by virtue of winning the all-India inter-zone university cricket tournament on Sunday.
Jain registered a convincing 82-run win over title favourites Bombay University in the two-day final at Manipal University ground. It was also sweet revenge for Jain who lost to Bombay in the semifinal last year.Chasing 336 for a win, Bombay were all out for 253 in 78.3 overs.
For good part of the day, the final was evenly poised with neither side having the edge. The only time Bombay seemed to gaining some advantage was when Pankaj Jaiswal and Shashank Singh came together for the sixth wicket. From 155 for five, they took the score to 222 when Shashank was dismissed by Samarth caught at the wicket by Nihal Ullal for 32. That was in the 66th over and with an important batsman back in the hut; Bombay had very little fight left in them.
Their start was much the same as was the Jain innings on Saturday. They lost two quick wickets, both accounted for by medium pacer CA Karthik. But it did not rattle the confidence of Bombay batsmen. A 50-run partnership for the third wicket between Jaideep Pardesi and Kevin Almeida steadied the innings. Kevin was trapped leg before by offie Daniel Sequeira for 19 and Jaideep left 17 runs later, also trapped leg before by Shashindra, for a well-made 53.
Once he was gone, the Jain bowlers kept things tight and got another wicket that of Siddesh Lad, 19, before Pankaj and Shashank came together. All the while the two were in the center, Jain captain Kaunain Abbas shuffle his bowlers at one end, while retaining left arm spinner Daniel at the other. Pankaj and Shashank batted with determination to make a match out of it and hit the bowlers all over the ground. The former even hoisted Daniel over mid-wicket for a six.
To make matters 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. That was the only aberration in the Jain fielding. Once Shashank and Pankaj left, the fight was virtually over. Pankaj was the seventh to go at the score of 233. The left-arm batsman tried to square-cut off-spinner Samarth and was bowled for 72.
The wickets were shared. Daniel who bowled 25.3 overs had three for 88, Samarth 3 for 45 and Karthik two for 37 were the others who did well with the ball. Syed Kirmani, former Indian stumper and director, Karnataka State Cricket Academy gave away the prizes. Samarth Ravi Kumar was declared man of the match and series as well.
Brief scores:
Finals: Day 2: Manipal University ground: Jain University, Bangalore: 335 for seven in 90 overs beat Bombay University 253 all out in 78.3 overs (Pankaj Jaiswal 72, Jaideep Pardesi 53, Akhil Rajput 20, Shashank Singh 32, CA Karthik 2-37, Samarth Ravi Kumar 3-45 and Daniel Sequeira 3-88)