A moment from the match between Guwahati Cricket Coaching Centre (A) and Ankurjyoti Club at Nehru Stadium on Thursday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Dec. 20: Ranji player Palashjyoti Das today upped the bar for Twenty20 cricket by hitting a hurricane knock of 164 off 64 balls to bowl out Ankurjyoti Cricket Academy in a match of the Ist Bud Challenge Twenty20 Cricket meet, played at Nehru Stadium.

Man of the Match Das, in great form since hitting his maiden Ranji century early this month on this very ground, made mincemeat of the rival attack to guide Guwahati Cricket Coaching Centre (A) to a mammoth 280 for three. He hit 11 sixes and 18 boundaries, most of his big hits crossing the long on and long off fence with ease.

In the process, Das made the first century of the meet. He is also the first in the city to have scored such a huge individual score in this format of the game.

The Ankurjyoti boys were a hapless lot, ruing the missed catch at cover while Das was in his fifties.

Bikash Sarma scored a patient 25 not out off 52 balls, in sharp contrast to Das’ calculated belligerence.

Surajit Borah of Ankurjyoti took two wickets for 48 while Rahul Basfore took one.

The Ankurjyoti players could not recover from the thrashing and folded up at 118 for five. Sidhartha Ojha (39 off 38 balls) and Somnath Bhattacharjee (25 off 30 balls) were their top scorers.

Das, incidentally, was supposed to play in the final of the Ankurjyoti Challenge Cricket for Gauhati Town Club at nearby Latasil Ground. “Given the form he was in, we would not have lost the final against Shantipur. He has certainly raised the bar for this format of the game,” a Gauhati club player rued. The club ended its innings for a paltry 138 today.

Das’ knock overshadowed everything that followed, even the one-sided victory of River Rine over Bud (B) who were dismissed for a meagre 63 in 14.5 overs with Jintu Das claiming four for 26.

Jintu Das followed up his brilliant spell with a 21-run knock to earn the Man of the Match award.

Tomorrow, Bud (B) will take on Ankurjyoti Club while GCCC (A) will meet River Rine.