The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023-24 has entered its third round, treating cricket enthusiasts to a delightful mix of thrilling encounters and unexpected upsets. Let’s dive into the highlights of Round 3, where defending champions were stunned, and some remarkable individual performances stole the limelight.
Tripura Stuns Defending Champions Saurashtra
In a surprising turn of events, Tripura managed to humble the defending champions, Saurashtra, by a convincing margin of 148 runs. Despite the presence of experienced batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, Saurashtra couldn’t withstand Tripura’s grit. Contributions from Bikram Kumar Das, Sudip Chatterjee, and Ganesh Satish propelled Tripura to a challenging total of 258/8. Jaydev Unadkat’s five-wicket haul for Saurashtra wasn’t enough, as Tripura bowled out Saurashtra for just 110. Joydeb Deb, a part-timer, emerged as the hero with a fifer, claiming 5/15.
Warrier Wrecks Bengal in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023-24
Pacer Sandeep Warrier showcased his prowess by grabbing four wickets (4/23) as Tamil Nadu bundled out Bengal for a paltry 84 in a Group E match. Despite a few hiccups, Tamil Nadu successfully chased down the target in 19.1 overs, losing five wickets in the process. Warrier’s exceptional bowling performance set the tone for Tamil Nadu’s dominance in the match.
Padikkal Powers Karnataka to Victory
In a Group C encounter, middle-order batter Devdutt Padikkal played a fluent knock of 70 off 69 balls, guiding Karnataka to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Delhi. Earlier in the match, pacers Vidwath Kaverappa and Vasuki Koushik shared six wickets, bowling out Delhi for 143. Ayush Badoni’s valiant century for Delhi went in vain as Padikkal anchored Karnataka’s successful chase.
Madhya Pradesh Drubs Punjab
In a Group E clash, Punjab’s strong batting lineup, featuring Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh, and Mandeep Singh, suffered a collapse, succumbing to an 89-run defeat against Madhya Pradesh. Akshat Raghuvanshi and Rajat Patidar guided MP to a total of 177, and Punjab faltered, getting bowled out for just 89. Kumar Kartikeya Singh and Arshad Khan shared six wickets to dismantle Punjab’s batting order.
Other Notable Performances of Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023-24
- Mumbai secured a 26-run victory against Railways, with Jay Bista’s impressive 144 setting the stage for their triumph.
- Vidarbha chased down Maharashtra’s total of 255/8 with five wickets to spare, thanks to significant contributions from Atharva Taide, A. Mokhade, and Harsh Dubey.
- Rajasthan emerged victorious against Uttar Pradesh, winning by 60 runs. Abhijeet Tomar’s half-century and Rahul Chahar’s five-wicket haul played pivotal roles in Rajasthan’s triumph.
The Vijay Hazare Trophy continues to unfold exciting cricketing action, showcasing the depth of talent and the unpredictability that makes the tournament a fan favorite. As teams gear up for the next rounds, cricket enthusiasts can expect more nail-biting encounters and standout performances in this premier domestic one-day competition.
