Bengaluru, Jan 16 (.) Vishvaraj Jadeja’s masterful unbeaten 165 propelled Saurashtra into the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy as they chased down Punjab’s 292 with nine wickets in hand and 63 balls to spare at the Centre of Excellence here on Friday.
Jadeja’s innings, which came off 127 balls and included 18 fours and three sixes, was his third List A century of the tournament.
He received excellent support from captain Harvik Desai, who played a composed 64 off 63 deliveries, and Prerak Mankad, who remained unbeaten on 52, guiding Saurashtra to a comprehensive victory.
The opening pair of Jadeja and Desai put together a commanding 172-run stand, setting the tone for an audacious chase that rarely looked in doubt. Desai, while playing a steady supporting role, rotated the strike efficiently, allowing Jadeja to dominate the attack.
Following Desai’s dismissal, Jadeja and Mankad added an unbroken 121-run partnership off just 99 balls, sealing the win well before the allotted 50 overs were complete.
Jadeja’s aggressive approach, particularly against Punjab’s fast bowlers, ensured that Saurashtra erased any possibility of a tense finish. All three of his sixes came before he reached his half-century, and his strokeplay, especially against the inexperienced Krish Bhagat, was breathtaking.
Punjab’s total of 291 was largely built on Anmolpreet Singh’s resilient 100 and Prabhsimran Singh’s 87. The pair shared a 100-run partnership for the second wicket, providing Punjab with a strong platform after early setbacks.
However, wickets at regular intervals in the final overs, including dismissals of Naman Dhir and Nehal Wadhera, prevented Punjab from capitalising fully in the death overs.
Chetan Sakariya led the Saurashtra bowling attack with figures of 4 for 60, while Ankur Panwar chipped in with two crucial wickets. Jaydev Unadkat, returning to competitive cricket after an extended break, bowled economically, conceding just 39 runs in his ten overs and providing key control in the middle overs.
Saurashtra’s emphatic win sets up a final clash with Vidarbha on Sunday, where they will aim to claim their third Vijay Hazare Trophy title and their first since the 2022-23 season. Jadeja’s exceptional innings has not only put Saurashtra in the final but also stamped him as one of the tournament’s standout performers.
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