M. P. Bajana - Revision history

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slightly expanded layout for consistency additionally and corrected details

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	\| year1 = 1911		\| year1 = 1911
	\| club2 = [[Somerset County Cricket Club\|Somerset]]		\| club2 = [[Somerset County Cricket Club\|Somerset]]
	\| year2 = 1912–1920		\| year2 = {{nowrap\|1912–1920}}
	\| type1 = First-class		\| type1 = First-class
	\| debutdate1 = 29 June		\| debutdate1 = 29 June
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	\| source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/3/3415/3415.html CricketArchive		\| source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/3/3415/3415.html CricketArchive
	}}		}}
	'''Manek Pallon Bajana''' (14 September 1886 – 28 April 1927) was an Indian [[Amateur status in first-class cricket\|amateur~~]] [[~~cricket]]er who played 55 [[first-class cricket]] matches between 1911 and 1920. Originally a member of the [[Indian cricket team in England in 1911\|Indian team which toured England in 1911]], he remained in the country and joined [[Somerset County Cricket Club]], for which he played as an [[Batting order (cricket)\|opening batsman]] until 1920. During his nine-year first-class cricket career, Bajana scored 1,975 runs at an [[Batting average (cricket)\|average]] of 20.78. He scored three centuries, and made his highest score in 1920, scoring 115 runs against [[Cambridge University Cricket Club\|Cambridge University]].		'''Manek Pallon Bajana''' (14 September 1886 – 28 April 1927) was an Indian [[Amateur status in first-class cricket\|amateur cricket]]er who played 55 [[first-class cricket]] matches between 1911 and 1920. Originally a member of the [[Indian cricket team in England in 1911\|Indian team which toured England in 1911]], he remained in the country and joined [[Somerset County Cricket Club]], for which he played as an [[Batting order (cricket)\|opening batsman]] until 1920. During his nine-year first-class cricket career, Bajana scored 1,975 runs at an [[Batting average (cricket)\|average]] of 20.78. He scored three centuries, and made his highest score in 1920, scoring 115 runs against [[Cambridge University Cricket Club\|Cambridge University]].

	==Early life and Indian tour==		==Early life and Indian tour==
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	He did not play for Somerset in 1914, as business interests had taken him to London. Instead he played regularly for Shepherd's Bush, for whom he had appeared on occasion from his first arrival in England,<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.shepherdsbushcc.co.uk/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=2 \|title=The rise of the Bush \|last=Perrin \|first=David \|date=1 May 2006 \|access-date=23 May 2013 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707062601/http://www.shepherdsbushcc.co.uk/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=2 \|archive-date=7 July 2013}}</ref> and for whom in 1914 he made two centuries over one bank holiday weekend; 134 against Brixton and 121 against North London.<ref name="Carter, Andy">{{Cite book \|title= Beyond the Pale \|last=Carter \|first=Andy \|year=2019 \|publisher=[[Matador Publishing]] \|location=Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire \|isbn=978-1-83859-202-8 \|page=123}}</ref>		He did not play for Somerset in 1914, as business interests had taken him to London. Instead he played regularly for Shepherd's Bush, for whom he had appeared on occasion from his first arrival in England,<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.shepherdsbushcc.co.uk/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=2 \|title=The rise of the Bush \|last=Perrin \|first=David \|date=1 May 2006 \|access-date=23 May 2013 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707062601/http://www.shepherdsbushcc.co.uk/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=2 \|archive-date=7 July 2013}}</ref> and for whom in 1914 he made two centuries over one bank holiday weekend; 134 against Brixton and 121 against North London.<ref name="Carter, Andy">{{Cite book \|title= Beyond the Pale \|last=Carter \|first=Andy \|year=2019 \|publisher=[[Matador Publishing]] \|location=Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire \|isbn=978-1-83859-202-8 \|page=123}}</ref>

	At the outbreak of the First World War county cricket was suspended, but Bajana continued to play for Shepherd's Bush until in 1916 he became involved in the foundation of the Indian Gymkhana club in Mill Hill, north London, scoring a century in the club's first match against Australian Imperial Forces. Thereafter Bajana played, and captained, in a number of matches for Indian Gymkhana, scoring another century for the team against a New Zealand APS side in 1918.<ref>{{cite news \|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EP19181026.2.85.4 \|title=Cricket \|work=[[The Evening Post (New Zealand)\|Evening Post]] \|publisher=Blundell Bros Limited \|volume=XCVI \|issue=102 \|date=26 October 1918 \|page=11 \|access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.vads.ac.uk/large.php?uid=33224 \|title=First-Class Cricket Match \|publisher=VADS \|year=1919 \|access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref>		At the outbreak of the First World War county cricket was suspended, but Bajana continued to play for Shepherd's Bush until in 1916 he became involved in the foundation of the Indian Gymkhana club in Mill Hill, north London, scoring a century in the club's first match against Australian Imperial Forces. Thereafter Bajana played, and captained, in a number of matches for Indian Gymkhana, scoring another century for the team against a New Zealand APS side in 1918.<ref>{{cite news \|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EP19181026.2.85.4 \|title=Cricket \|work=[[The Evening Post (New Zealand)\|Evening Post]] \|publisher=Blundell Bros Limited \|volume=XCVI \|issue=102 \|date=26 October 1918 \|page=11 \|access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.vads.ac.uk/large.php?uid=33224 \|title=First-Class Cricket Match \|publisher=VADS \|year=1919 \|access-date=23 May 2013 }}{{Dead link\|date=August 2024 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

	In 1919 he returned to the Somerset team, playing in six of their twelve County Championship matches. His batting average of 27.55 in that competition was the second-highest amongst his team, bettered only by [[Jack MacBryan]]. Bajana hit two half-centuries during the season,<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/0/County_Championship_1919/Somerset_Batting.html \|title= Batting and Fielding for Somerset: County Championship 1919 \|publisher=CricketArchive \|url-access=subscription \|access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> scoring 77 against Derbyshire,<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9607.html \|title=Derbyshire v Somerset: County Championship 1919 \|publisher=CricketArchive \|url-access=subscription \|access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> and 59 against [[Essex County Cricket Club\|Essex]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9621.html \|title=Essex v Somerset: County Championship 1919 \|publisher=CricketArchive \|url-access=subscription \|access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> The following 1920 season was Bajana's last with Somerset. He appeared fifteen times for the county in first-class cricket, averaging just over twenty.<ref name="bbs"/> In a match against [[Cambridge University Cricket Club\|Cambridge University]], he achieved his highest first-class score, hitting 14 [[Boundary (cricket)\|fours]] on his way to a total of 115 runs in 135 minutes.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9791.html \|title=Cambridge University v Somerset: University Match 1920 \|publisher=CricketArchive \|url-access=subscription \|access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> In his next match, he scored a second century for Somerset, and his only one in the County Championship, scoring 106 runs against [[Warwickshire County Cricket Club\|Warwickshire]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9810.html \|title=Somerset v Warwickshire: County Championship 1920 \|publisher=CricketArchive \|url-access=subscription \|access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> Bajana played his final first-class match against [[Middlesex County Cricket Club\|Middlesex]] in August 1920, scoring six and a [[Duck (cricket)\|duck]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9948.html \|title=Middlesex v Somerset: County Championship 1920 \|publisher=CricketArchive \|url-access=subscription \|access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> In all, Bajana scored 1,975 first-class runs at an average of 20.78. He scored three centuries and seven half-centuries in 96 innings. He was rarely used as a bowler, and took four wickets at an average of 33.00.<ref name="ciprof"/>		In 1919 he returned to the Somerset team, playing in six of their twelve County Championship matches. His batting average of 27.55 in that competition was the second-highest amongst his team, bettered only by [[Jack MacBryan]]. Bajana hit two half-centuries during the season,<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/0/County_Championship_1919/Somerset_Batting.html \|title= Batting and Fielding for Somerset: County Championship 1919 \|publisher=CricketArchive \|url-access=subscription \|access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> scoring 77 against Derbyshire,<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9607.html \|title=Derbyshire v Somerset: County Championship 1919 \|publisher=CricketArchive \|url-access=subscription \|access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> and 59 against [[Essex County Cricket Club\|Essex]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9621.html \|title=Essex v Somerset: County Championship 1919 \|publisher=CricketArchive \|url-access=subscription \|access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> The following 1920 season was Bajana's last with Somerset. He appeared fifteen times for the county in first-class cricket, averaging just over twenty.<ref name="bbs"/> In a match against [[Cambridge University Cricket Club\|Cambridge University]], he achieved his highest first-class score, hitting 14 [[Boundary (cricket)\|fours]] on his way to a total of 115 runs in 135 minutes.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9791.html \|title=Cambridge University v Somerset: University Match 1920 \|publisher=CricketArchive \|url-access=subscription \|access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> In his next match, he scored a second century for Somerset, and his only one in the County Championship, scoring 106 runs against [[Warwickshire County Cricket Club\|Warwickshire]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9810.html \|title=Somerset v Warwickshire: County Championship 1920 \|publisher=CricketArchive \|url-access=subscription \|access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> Bajana played his final first-class match against [[Middlesex County Cricket Club\|Middlesex]] in August 1920, scoring six and a [[Duck (cricket)\|duck]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9948.html \|title=Middlesex v Somerset: County Championship 1920 \|publisher=CricketArchive \|url-access=subscription \|access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> In all, Bajana scored 1,975 first-class runs at an average of 20.78. He scored three centuries and seven half-centuries in 96 innings. He was rarely used as a bowler, and took four wickets at an average of 33.00.<ref name="ciprof"/>
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	[[Category:1927 deaths]]		[[Category:1927 deaths]]
	[[Category:Indian cricketers]]		[[Category:Indian cricketers]]
	[[Category:Parsi ~~people~~]]		[[Category:20th-century Indian sportsmen]]
			[[Category:Parsi sportsmen]]
	[[Category:Somerset cricketers]]		[[Category:Somerset cricketers]]
			[[Category:Indian expatriate cricketers in England]]
			[[Category:Parsi cricketers]]

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{{Short description|Indian amateur cricketer (1886–1927)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = M. P. Bajana
| image = MP Bajana.jpg
| caption = Bajana with the Somerset team in 1912
| country = India
| fullname = Manek Pallon Bajana
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1886|09|14|df=yes}}
| birth_place = India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1927|04|28|1886|09|14|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[London]], England
| nickname = Pyjamas<ref name="tour">{{cite book |editor-first=Scyld |editor-last=Berry |editor-link=Scyld Berry |title=[[Wisden Cricketer's Almanack|Wisden Cricketer's Almanack 2011]] |edition=148 |year=2011 |publisher=John Wisden & Co. Ltd |location=Alton, Hampshire |isbn=978-1-4081-3130-5 |last=Kidambi |first=Prashant |chapter=The most extraordinary cricket tour |pages=74–84}}</ref>
| batting = Right-handed
| role = [[Batting order (cricket)|Opening batsman]]
| club1 = [[India national cricket team|Indians]]
| year1 = 1911
| club2 = [[Somerset County Cricket Club|Somerset]]
| year2 = 1912–1920
| type1 = First-class
| debutdate1 = 29 June
| debutyear1 = 1911
| debutfor1 = [[India national cricket team|Indians]]
| debutagainst1 = [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey]]
| lastdate1 = 18 August
| lastyear1 = 1920
| lastfor1 = [[Somerset County Cricket Club|Somerset]]
| lastagainst1 = [[Middlesex County Cricket Club|Middlesex]]
| columns = 1
| column1 = [[First-class cricket|First-class]]
| matches1 = 55
| runs1 = 1975
| bat avg1 = 20.78
| 100s/50s1 = 3/7
| top score1 = 115
| deliveries1 = 233
| wickets1 = 4
| bowl avg1 = 33.00
| fivefor1 = 0
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 2/14
| catches/stumpings1 = 36/–
| date = 2 February
| year = 2010
| source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/3/3415/3415.html CricketArchive
}}
'''Manek Pallon Bajana''' (14 September 1886 – 28 April 1927) was an Indian [[Amateur status in first-class cricket|amateur]] [[cricket]]er who played 55 [[first-class cricket]] matches between 1911 and 1920. Originally a member of the [[Indian cricket team in England in 1911|Indian team which toured England in 1911]], he remained in the country and joined [[Somerset County Cricket Club]], for which he played as an [[Batting order (cricket)|opening batsman]] until 1920. During his nine-year first-class cricket career, Bajana scored 1,975 runs at an [[Batting average (cricket)|average]] of 20.78. He scored three centuries, and made his highest score in 1920, scoring 115 runs against [[Cambridge University Cricket Club|Cambridge University]].

==Early life and Indian tour==
Manek Pallon Bajana was born on 14 September 1886 in India.<ref name="ciprof">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/26821.html |title=Player Profile: Prince Bajana |publisher=[[ESPNcricinfo]] |access-date=22 May 2013}}</ref> Leading up to 1911, he was employed in India by [[Maharaja]] [[Nripendra Narayan]] of [[Cooch Behar State|Cooch Behar]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/534448.html |title=My kingdom for a bat |last=Lynch |first=Steven |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=3 October 2011 |access-date=22 May 2013}}</ref> and early that year, Bajana travelled as part of the Maharajah's retinue to England,<ref name="tour"/> where Narayan was attending the [[coronation]] of King [[George V]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YQdZlHJ2WTAC&pg=PA111 |title=Indian Princely Medals: A Record of the Orders, Decorations and Medals of the Indian Princely States |last=McClenaghan |first=Tony |page=111 |publisher=Lancer Publishers & Distributors |location=New Delhi |year=1996 |isbn=1-897829-19-1}}</ref> In England, he joined up with the [[Indian cricket team in England in 1911|touring Indian cricket team]], as one of seven [[Parsi]] players in the side. The 1911 tour was the first by a representative Indian team, and included a mix of [[Hindu]]s, Parsis, [[Muslim]]s, and two members of the [[Untouchability|untouchable]] [[Chamar]] caste.<ref name="tour"/> Bajana appeared in seven matches during the tour, of which four had [[First-class cricket|first-class]] status.<ref name="fcm">{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/3/3415/First-Class_Matches.html |title=First-Class Matches played by Prince Bajana (55) |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="om">{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/3/3415/Miscellaneous_Matches.html |title=Miscellaneous Matches played by Prince Bajana (9) |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> The team did not fare very well in their contests; the [[Captain (cricket)|captain]] of the side, Maharaja [[Bhupinder Singh of Patiala]], only played three matches and spent the rest of his time socialising with the British high society, and there were rumours of sectarianism between the Parsi and Hindu members of the team. In twenty-three matches, they won six and lost fifteen, the remaining two being drawn.<ref name="tour"/> Bajana was one of four batsmen to score a first-class [[Century (cricket)|century]] for the Indians;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/0/India_in_British_Isles_1911/f_Indians_Batting.html |title=First-class Batting and Fielding for Indians: India in British Isles 1911 |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> he struck 108 against [[Somerset County Cricket Club|Somerset]] at [[County Ground, Taunton|Taunton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/8/8505.html |title=Somerset v Indians: India in British Isles 1911 |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> On his first-class debut, Bajana suffered the ignominy of a [[Pair (cricket)|pair]] – [[Dismissal (cricket)|dismissed]] without scoring in both [[Innings#Cricket|innings]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/8/8475.html |title=Surrey v Indians: India in British Isles 1911 |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> During the tour, Bajana made it known that he was looking to remain in England and play [[county cricket]]. His century against Somerset drew the attention of that county, and he joined them in 1912.<ref name="foot">{{Cite book |title=Sunshine, Sixes and Cider: The History of Somerset Cricket |last=Foot |first=David |year=1986 |publisher=[[David & Charles]] |location=Newton Abbot, Devon |isbn=0-7153-8890-8 |page=62}}</ref>

==County cricketer==
At the time of Bajana's arrival in the Somerset team, the county were struggling to compete in the [[County Championship]], and were making a financial loss.<ref>Roebuck (1991), pp. 107–113.</ref> In three of the four years prior to 1912, Somerset had finished bottom of the championship table, and there was little improvement in the final three years before the [[First World War]], each of which resulted in a bottom-three finish.<ref>Roebuck (1991), p. 411.</ref> The Somerset cricket historian, [[David Foot (journalist)|David Foot]], records that at this time, the county's recruitment policy was "susceptible to exotic grandeur and haughty lineage," and suggested that a player's cricketing ability was often a secondary consideration to their social standing.<ref name="foot"/> Bajana made his debut for Somerset in May 1912,<ref name="fcm"/> opening the batting for the county against [[Sussex County Cricket Club|Sussex]]. He scored twenty-two and seven in a six-wicket victory for his county.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/8/8640.html |title=Sussex v Somerset: County Championship 1912 |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> In the subsequent match, against [[Hampshire County Cricket Club|Hampshire]], Bajana scored his first half-century in county cricket, hitting 71 [[Run (cricket)|runs]] in the second innings; the highest score of any Somerset batsman in the match.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/8/8642.html |title=Hampshire v Somerset: County Championship 1912 |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> He passed 50 on three further occasions that year,<ref name="bbs">{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/3/3415/f_Batting_by_Season.html |title=First-class Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Prince Bajana |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> and along with [[Len Braund]] and [[Ernie Robson]], was ever-present in the Somerset team that season. His year's aggregate of 575 runs in the County Championship, and his score of 95, made against [[Worcestershire County Cricket Club|Worcestershire]] in August,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/8/8867.html |title=Worcestershire v Somerset: County Championship 1912 |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> were both the county's best that season, in a year in which no player scored a century for Somerset.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/0/County_Championship_1912/Somerset_Batting.html |title= Batting and Fielding for Somerset: County Championship 1912 |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref>

Bajana appeared less frequently for Somerset in 1913, playing ten matches for the county.<ref name="Som1913">{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/0/County_Championship_1913/Somerset_Batting.html |title=Batting and Fielding for Somerset: County Championship 1913 |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> He only scored one half-century, accruing 78 runs against [[Derbyshire County Cricket Club|Derbyshire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9008.html |title=Somerset v Derbyshire: County Championship 1913 |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> His [[Batting average (cricket)|batting average]] of 19.75 in 1913 placed him fourth in the Somerset batting averages.<ref name="Som1913"/>

He did not play for Somerset in 1914, as business interests had taken him to London. Instead he played regularly for Shepherd's Bush, for whom he had appeared on occasion from his first arrival in England,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shepherdsbushcc.co.uk/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=2 |title=The rise of the Bush |last=Perrin |first=David |date=1 May 2006 |access-date=23 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707062601/http://www.shepherdsbushcc.co.uk/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=2 |archive-date=7 July 2013}}</ref> and for whom in 1914 he made two centuries over one bank holiday weekend; 134 against Brixton and 121 against North London.<ref name="Carter, Andy">{{Cite book |title= Beyond the Pale |last=Carter |first=Andy |year=2019 |publisher=[[Matador Publishing]] |location=Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire |isbn=978-1-83859-202-8 |page=123}}</ref>

At the outbreak of the First World War county cricket was suspended, but Bajana continued to play for Shepherd's Bush until in 1916 he became involved in the foundation of the Indian Gymkhana club in Mill Hill, north London, scoring a century in the club's first match against Australian Imperial Forces. Thereafter Bajana played, and captained, in a number of matches for Indian Gymkhana, scoring another century for the team against a New Zealand APS side in 1918.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EP19181026.2.85.4 |title=Cricket |work=[[The Evening Post (New Zealand)|Evening Post]] |publisher=Blundell Bros Limited |volume=XCVI |issue=102 |date=26 October 1918 |page=11 |access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vads.ac.uk/large.php?uid=33224 |title=First-Class Cricket Match |publisher=VADS |year=1919 |access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref>

In 1919 he returned to the Somerset team, playing in six of their twelve County Championship matches. His batting average of 27.55 in that competition was the second-highest amongst his team, bettered only by [[Jack MacBryan]]. Bajana hit two half-centuries during the season,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/0/County_Championship_1919/Somerset_Batting.html |title= Batting and Fielding for Somerset: County Championship 1919 |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> scoring 77 against Derbyshire,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9607.html |title=Derbyshire v Somerset: County Championship 1919 |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> and 59 against [[Essex County Cricket Club|Essex]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9621.html |title=Essex v Somerset: County Championship 1919 |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> The following 1920 season was Bajana's last with Somerset. He appeared fifteen times for the county in first-class cricket, averaging just over twenty.<ref name="bbs"/> In a match against [[Cambridge University Cricket Club|Cambridge University]], he achieved his highest first-class score, hitting 14 [[Boundary (cricket)|fours]] on his way to a total of 115 runs in 135 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9791.html |title=Cambridge University v Somerset: University Match 1920 |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> In his next match, he scored a second century for Somerset, and his only one in the County Championship, scoring 106 runs against [[Warwickshire County Cricket Club|Warwickshire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9810.html |title=Somerset v Warwickshire: County Championship 1920 |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> Bajana played his final first-class match against [[Middlesex County Cricket Club|Middlesex]] in August 1920, scoring six and a [[Duck (cricket)|duck]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9948.html |title=Middlesex v Somerset: County Championship 1920 |publisher=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> In all, Bajana scored 1,975 first-class runs at an average of 20.78. He scored three centuries and seven half-centuries in 96 innings. He was rarely used as a bowler, and took four wickets at an average of 33.00.<ref name="ciprof"/>

==Personal and later life==
In his history of Somerset cricket, David Foot describes Bajana as a "smallish solidly built opening bat".<ref name="foot"/> During his time at Somerset, he was known as "Pyjamas", which sounds similar to his surname.<ref name="foot"/> For a time, he ran an antiques and art dealership in [[Bayswater]], London with Constantine Diamandis, but they dissolved their partnership in early 1920.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=31784 |date=17 February 1920 |page=1990 }}</ref> After the conclusion of his first-class cricket career, he continued to play for Indian Gymkhana, including matches at [[Lord's]] against the [[Marylebone Cricket Club]] in each of 1922, 1923 and 1924.<ref name="om"/> He died in [[Bethnal Green]], London on 28 April 1927 at the age of 40.<ref name="ciprof"/>

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Bibliography==
*{{Cite book | title = From Sammy to Jimmy: The Official History of Somerset County Cricket Club| last=Roebuck | first=Peter |authorlink=Peter Roebuck | year = 1991 | publisher = Partridge Press |location=[[London]] | isbn = 1-85225-085-2 }}

==External links==
* {{cricketarchive|ref=Archive/Players/3/3415/3415.html}}
* {{cricinfo|ref=ci/content/player/26821.html}}

{{Good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bajana, Manek Pallon}}
[[Category:1886 births]]
[[Category:1927 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian cricketers]]
[[Category:Parsi people]]
[[Category:Somerset cricketers]]