S. Siddarth helps Hindustan IT&S pull out a narrow two-wicket in another semifinal

Opener S.J. Nikin Jose slammed an unbeaten and responsible century (103 n.o., 132b, 3×4), and helped hosts University of Mysore (UoM) to register a facile six-wicket win over Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Hyderabad and enter the final in the South Zone Inter-University Men’s Cricket Tournament 2019-20, played at the SDNR Wadiyar Grounds here yesterday.

Put into bat, JNTU Hyderabad got off to a decent start with their openers P. Sai Vikas Reddy (37, 46b, 4×4) and N. Anirudh Reddy (49, 53b, 2×4, 3×6) adding 74-runs for the opening wicket.

Wickets fell at regular intervals from then on, and JNTU could only post a total of 237/8 in 45 overs. K. Ashish (45 n.o., 28b, 2×4, 2×6) used the long handle to purpose and boosted the team’s total. T.V.S. Narayana Teja (22) and M. Siddarth Naidu (21, 21b, 1×4, 1×6) were the other contributors. Left-arm spinner Tushar Harikrishna impressed with figures of 3/31.

In reply, UoM got off to a slow start with openers B. Dheemanth (21, 27b, 1×4, 1×6) and S.J. Nikin Jose (103 n.o.) adding 33-runs for the opening wicket.

After the loss of Goutham Sagar (2) early, the third-wicket pair of Nikin Jose and Kishan S. Bedare (56 58b, 6×4) added 116-runs and took their team towards victory. M. Venkatesh (24 n.o., 26b, 3×4) and D. Amruth Raj (20) were the other scorers. University of Mysore scored 238 for four in 44.2 overs and registered a six-wicket win.

Hindustan IT&S beat Jain University

In the other semi-final, defending champion Jain University, Bengaluru, lost to Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (IT&S), Chennai, by two-wickets.

In a low-scoring match at JSS-SJCE Grounds, batting first, Jain University’s top-order batsmen failed as medium-pacer D. Rahul took four for 29.

Kishore Kamath’s 49 n.o. (59b, 4×4, 4×6) boosted the team’s total to 115 in 29.5 overs. Samruddh Bhat and N.S. Harish took two wickets each.

In reply, Hindustan IT&S were well-served by opener S. Siddarth (55, 40b, 9×4) which helped their team pull out a narrow two-wicket win by scoring 116/8 in 20.5 overs.

Left-arm spinner A. Pranav Bhatia impressed with figures of 4/39, while Kishore Kamath and Vyshak Vijay Kumar took two wickets each.

The final is slated for today (Dec.10) with UoM taking on Hindustan IT&S in the title clash at SDNR Wadiyar Grounds.

All the four semifinalists qualified for the All-India Inter-University Cricket Tournament for Men 2019-20.

Scores

Semi-finals

JNTU, Hyderabad: 237/8 in 45 overs (N. Anirudh Reddy 49, P. Sai Vikas Reddy 37, T.V.S. Narayana Teja 22, M. Siddarth Naidu 21, Tushar Harikrishna 3/31) lost to UoM: 238/4 in 44.2 overs (S.J. Nikin Jose 103 n.o., Kishan S. Bedare 56, M. Venkatesh 24 n.o., D. Amruth Raj 20); Man of the Match: S.J. Nikin Jose.

Jain University, Bengaluru: 115 in 29.5 overs (Kishore Kamath 49 n.o., Rohan Nayakar 25, Aditya Somanna 22, D. Rahul 4 for 29, Samrudh Bhat 2/20, N.S. Harish 2/34) lost to Hindustan IT&S, Chennai: 116/8 in 20.5 overs (S. Siddarth 55, A. Pranav Bhatia 4/39, Kishore Kamath 2/20, Vyshak Vijaykumar 2/16); Man of the Match: Kishore Kamath.