Vijay Hazare Trophy: A Day of Record-Breaking Performances and Thrilling Chases
In an action-packed day of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, there were stellar performances across the board, with players smashing records, guiding their teams to dominant victories, and setting up some thrilling chases.
Mumbai vs Karnataka
Krishnan Shrijith's brilliant 150* off 101 balls helped Karnataka chase down a daunting target of 383 set by Mumbai. Shrijith was well-supported by Praveen Dubey, who contributed a steady 65* off 50 balls, as they put together an unbroken 183-run stand to guide Karnataka to a seven-wicket victory with 20 balls to spare. The chase began solidly with KV Aneesh's breezy 82 off 66 balls, while Mayank Agarwal also contributed with 47 runs. Despite Mumbai's brilliant batting effort, spearheaded by Shreyas Iyer’s explosive 114* off 55 balls, Karnataka's chase was flawless, and they comfortably crossed the target. Mumbai’s total of 375 was not enough, despite Hardik Tamore’s 84 and Ayush Mhatre’s 78, as Shrijith's masterful knock took Karnataka home.
Arunachal Pradesh vs Punjab
Anmolpreet Singh made history by smashing the fastest List A century by an Indian in just 35 balls. His blistering knock of 115* off 45 balls powered Punjab to a nine-wicket victory over Arunachal Pradesh. Punjab chased down the modest target of 165 in just 12.5 overs, with Prabhsimran Singh playing the supporting role with 35* off 25 balls. Earlier, Punjab’s bowlers, led by Baltej Singh (2-26) and Ashwani Kumar (3-37), had put the game beyond Arunachal’s reach as they restricted them to just 164.
Bengal vs Delhi
Abishek Porel’s outstanding 170* off 130 balls steered Bengal to a six-wicket victory over Delhi. Porel’s powerful knock ensured Bengal chased down 273 in the 42nd over, with key support from the other batters who played around him. Delhi’s fifties from Anuj Rawat (79*) and Himmat Singh (60*) helped them recover from a middle-order collapse to post 272. However, Bengal’s chase was clinical, and Porel’s fireworks proved to be the difference.
Bihar vs Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh comfortably chased down 197 against Bihar, winning by six wickets with almost half the overs to spare. Harsh Gawli (83* off 63) and Rajat Patidar (55* off 33) led the charge. Madhya Pradesh’s bowlers, particularly Avesh Khan (3-21), had earlier restricted Bihar to 196. Despite some resistance from Bipin Saurabh (50) and S Gani (48), Bihar couldn’t recover from the early blows.
Haryana vs Gujarat
Urvil Patel continued his exceptional form in white-ball cricket with a magnificent 115* off 91 balls, leading Gujarat to a six-wicket victory over Haryana. Patel’s knock, combined with a solid 65* off 39 balls from Vishal Jayswal, helped Gujarat chase down 261 with ease. Haryana’s total of 260, built around Nishant Sindhu’s 88, was not enough to challenge Gujarat’s potent bowling attack.
Andhra vs Railways
Ashwin Hebbar’s commanding 132 laid the foundation for Andhra’s 91-run victory over Railways. Andhra posted a solid total of 298, and Railways could only manage 207 in response, with Bodhala Kumar (4-45) and KV Sasikanth (3-47) shining with the ball. Upendra Yadav’s 64 was the lone bright spot for Railways, but the chase fell short despite a few promising starts.
Puducherry vs Saurashtra
Puducherry pulled off a thrilling five-wicket win against Saurashtra, chasing down 286. Arun Karthik (73*) and Aman Hakim Khan (46*) were the heroes in the chase, adding a vital 93-run partnership to guide Puducherry home. Earlier, fifties from Arpit Vasavada (62), Sheldon Jackson (71), and Chirag Jani (69*) had helped Saurashtra post a competitive total, but it wasn’t enough to hold off Puducherry’s chase.
Goa vs Odisha
Goa secured a 27-run win over Odisha in a high-scoring encounter. Suyash Prabhudesai’s 74* off 22 balls played a key role in setting a target of 371, which proved to be just enough as Odisha finished with 344. Goa’s top order had laid the foundation with three fifties, while Prabhudesai’s late surge ensured they had enough on the board. Odisha’s chase was steady, but losing wickets at crucial intervals derailed their pursuit.
Maharashtra vs Rajasthan
Maharashtra pulled off a thrilling three-wicket victory over Rajasthan, chasing down 216. Ankit Bawne’s unbeaten 74* off 95 balls and Nikhil Naik’s 46 off 56 were the anchors in Maharashtra’s successful chase, which was set up by a brilliant knock of 123 off 90 balls from Kartik Sharma. Sharma’s ton, filled with 11 sixes, rescued Rajasthan’s innings, but Maharashtra’s bowlers, led by Rajneesh Gurbani (4-35), ensured the chase was within reach.
These exciting encounters showed once again why the Vijay Hazare Trophy is a key platform for Indian cricketers to showcase their talents, with record-breaking feats and thrilling finishes lighting up the competition.
