Mumbai down Punjab in tame affair

Hyderabad: Jay Bista’s all-round performance helped Mumbai defeat last year runner-up Punjab by five wickets in the first round of the Vijay Hazare Trophy Group ‘A’ match at Gymkhana Ground here on Thursday.

Put into bat, Punjab was bundled out for 254 runs in 48.1 overs despite a run-a-ball 93 by captain Yuvraj Singh, who hit six fours and an equal number of sixes, much to the delight of the fans who had gathered outside. Going about the chase with a methodical approach, Mumbai completed the formalities in 45.1 overs with five wickets in hand.

The manner 19-year-Bista performed with both bat (despite three lives) and ball, it seemed like the absence of Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane hardly mattered. Bista’s 92 from 87 balls contained a dozen hits to the fence and a six of the bowling of Barinder Singh.

He added 108 runs for the third wicket with Surya Kumar Yadav, who retired after developing on making 38. When Bista fell Mumbai was coasting ahead with 179 runs in 32.3 overs. Abhishek Nayar (44no) took the responsibility and added 75 runs with Shashank Singh (39).

Yuvraj looked in fine nick as he was stroking the ball well with his 50 coming in 61 balls with four fours and three sixes. A century was for the asking. However, a mistimed lofted shot saw him return to the pavilion seven runs of a deserving century. Bista claimed two wickets.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad will open its campaign against Punjab at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. Mumbai will clash with Tamil Nadu, both of whom won their respective first round matches, at Gymkhana Ground.

Brief scores: Punjab 254 (Yuvraj Singh 93, Manan Vohra 35, Mandeep Singh 41, Dhawal Kulkarni 3/41, Sagar V Trivedi 3/21, Iqbal Abdullah 2/49, JG Bista 2/45) lost to Mumbai 255 for 5 in 45.1 overs (J G Vista 92, Surya Kumar Yadav 38 Retired hurt, Abhishek Nayar 44 no, Shashank Singh 39, Siddharth Kaul 3/58)

By Subhash Chandra