article by Suvankar Roy
Saurashtra decimated Punjab in a high-stakes encounter to secure their spot in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final.
The second semi-final of the tournament saw two powerhouses, Punjab and Saurashtra, go head-to-head. Saurashtra won the toss and elected to bowl first—a decision that initially seemed to backfire as Punjab’s openers, Harnoor Singh and Prabhsimran Singh, got off to a flying start. However, a costly misunderstanding between the wickets saw Harnoor depart for 33 with the score at 60.
Punjab’s momentum didn’t stall immediately, as Prabhsimran Singh and Anmolpreet Singh stitched together a brilliant 109-run partnership for the second wicket. Prabhsimran fell after a well-played 87, while Anmolpreet Singh stepped up on the big stage to smash a magnificent century, putting Punjab in a commanding position. Ramandeep Singh also chipped in with a handy 42.
Despite the top-order fireworks, Punjab’s middle order failed to capitalize. Star players like Nehal Wadhera and Naman Dhir perished cheaply, leading to a collapse. Punjab was eventually bowled out for 291 in 50 overs. For Saurashtra, Chetan Sakariya was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 4 wickets, despite being somewhat expensive in his opening spell
The Vishvaraj Jadeja Show
Chasing a formidable target of 292, Saurashtra’s openers took the Punjab bowling attack to the cleaners from the very first ball. Harvik Desai and Vishvaraj Jadeja unleashed an explosive batting display, putting together a massive 172-run opening stand.
Desai eventually departed for a solid 64 in the 23rd over, but Jadeja remained immovable. In the high-pressure environment of a semi-final, Jadeja showed nerves of steel, playing the innings of a lifetime. He demolished the Punjab attack, scoring a breathtaking 165 off just 127 balls*, decorated with 18 boundaries and 3 towering sixes.
Jadeja found able support in Prerak Mankad, who remained unbeaten on 52. Saurashtra made a mockery of the chase, reaching the target in just 39.3 overs with 9 wickets in hand. Punjab’s bowlers appeared toothless as they failed to find breakthroughs at crucial intervals.
Brief Scores:
- Punjab: 291/10 (50 overs)
- Saurashtra: 293/1 (39.3 overs)
Result: Saurashtra won by 9 wickets and advanced to the Final.