Batting is like walking on a tightrope. No matter how alert you are, a minor lapse in concentration can cost you dearly. Robin Bist, who rose to fame after scoring over 1000 runs in 2011-12 Ranji Trophy season, faced the harsh truth on Wednesday.
The Delhi lad, who moved to Rajasthan for recongnition and opportunity, batted patiently to hold Central Zone’s innings firm against South Zone on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy final at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground on Wednesday.
Central finished the day at 237 for 7 after South’s spinners dented their chances of getting a good score with regular breakthroughs. Bist batted with intent and positivity to reach 79 with 12 boundaries and one six but a momentary loss of concentration stopped him from getting his first century in two years.
Batting well till the 69th over, Bist gave no chance to the opposition to take his wicket. Be it his footwork against spinners or back-foot play against seamers, there was clarity in his thinking and reflected confidence.
His inside-out lofted shot that brought him six runs against Pragyan Ojha and a couple of flicks off the pads against pacers were the highlights of his batting.
He looked set for the century but lost his wicket on the most innocous half-pitched delivery. "It was not a ball to get out to. I have never got out in this manner. I even asked Pragyan (Ojha) and he thought the ball top-spun and stopped.
"I should have seen the day through having batted so long. It is not an easy pitch to bat (on) because the ball is not really coming on. Their pacers bowled well though," said Bist.
Apart from Bist and Arindam Ghosh, who is still unbeaten on 32, all other batsmen threw their wickets for no aparent reason to hand advantage to South.
The Vinay Kumar-led South too deserved credit for keeping pressure on the Central despite not getting much help from the wicket.
While Central resisted well in the first session and losing just one wicket for 75, second session tilted the match in South’s favour after Baba Aparajith struck twice in one over to claim Fazal and in-form Naman Ojha. In all Central lost four wickets in the post-lunch session.
A 30-run cameo by Piyush Chawla in the company of responsible Ghosh salvaged the situation for Central in the last session. The resistance lasted for 18 overs before a flashy drive by Chawla ended their 52-run stand.
Brief Scores
Central Zone: 237/7 (Robin Bist 79, Faiz Fazal 49, Arindam Ghosh 32 batting, Baba Aparajith 2/26) vs South Zone.