Skipper Jay Bista’s hundred set up 26-run win for SoBo SuperSonics over Aakash Tigers in the semi-final to set up pulsating final against North Mumbai Panthers. Bista’s 110 in 60 balls was the first ever hundred scored in the T20 Mumbai League and his record-breaking partnership of 196 with opener Hersh Tank helped SuperSonice scale 200 score for the first time this season. Tank hit 92 in 51 balls as they ended up scoring an imposing 217/4.
Despite captain Dhawal Kulkarni’s unbeaten 68 in 37 balls studded with five boundaries and three sixes, Tigers lost too many wickets to not really be in the chase. Still, it was creditable of them to tally 191 for nine.
Left-arm spinner Dhrumil Matkar, whose twin strikes in the second over pegged the Tigers back, then registered the first five-wicket haul of the season with his accurate bowling.
It turned out to be a Saturday night of records as SuperSonics boys erased a plethora of records with their scintillating batting. Bista became the highest individual scorer in the history of T20 Mumbai, surpassing Sujit Nayak’s unbeaten 99 for SoBo Supersonics against ARCS Andheri last year. The 196-run opening partnership also eclipsed the 148-run association by Suryakumar Yadav and Parikshit Valsangkar for Triumph Knight Mumbai North East during the last year’s final against Shivaji Park Lions.
Besides, the Supersonics’ total of 217 was not only the highest score of the season but also only the second 200-plus instance in the history of the tournament. Incidentally, the Supersonics hold the record for the highest total with their 236/3 versus ARCS Andheri last year.
Bista hit nine boundaries and five sixes and Tank hit seven boundaries and five sixes to put the the opposition bowlers, including Kulkarni to cleaners. The humid weather turned out be a hindrance for the duo but despite suffering cramps, the duo didn’t have a lapse in concentration right through the innings.
While Tank was solid straight down the wicket, Bista’s cuts and drives were a treat for the sea of yellow in the Wankhede stands. While Tank was the aggressor in the first half, reaching his fifty in the 10th over before Bista joined him in the 12th, the captain switched gears later on. Chinaman Aakarshit Gomel suffered the brunt in the 14th over, with Bista tonking him for a six over wide long-on before Tank doubled the tally in the same over.
Then on, the duo never looked back with boundaries coming at will. Left-arm pacer Arjun Tendulkar suffered the brunt in the 17th over with Bista hitting two fours on either sides of a six in an 18-run over. In the next over, two balls after Bista tapped Mulani to covers for a single and jump in joy for a 56-ball hundred, the glorious partnership came to an with Tank getting run-out.
Bista finally mistimed one in the penultimate over to receive a standing ovation. He may not have stayed till the end of the innings but by then the job was well and truly done.
