In a dramatic turnaround, the Rajasthan cricket team secured their first victory in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, edging past a formidable Tamil Nadu side by a narrow margin of 10 runs in Ahmedabad on Saturday. The hero of the day was young right-arm fast bowler Ashok Sharma, who delivered a match-winning, career-best performance.
Rajasthan's Battling Total
Opting to bat first, Rajasthan faced a stern test against a quality Tamil Nadu bowling attack. They were eventually bowled out for 225 in 46.5 overs, a total built largely around the experience of Deepak Hooda. The all-rounder played a crucial knock of 70 runs off just 69 balls, providing much-needed momentum. Captain Manav Suthar contributed a patient 43 from 93 deliveries, while Aditya Rathore (34) and others chipped in. For Tamil Nadu, India's mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy was the chief destroyer, claiming excellent figures of 4 for 25. Pacers Gurjapneet Singh (2/44) and Sonu Yadav (2/38) provided strong support.
Ashok Sharma's Fiery Spell and Tamil Nadu's Collapse
In reply, Tamil Nadu seemed to be in control during the early phase of their chase. Their top order laid a solid foundation with opener Athish SR scoring 54 and skipper Narayan Jagadeesan anchoring the innings with a well-made 71. All-rounder Washington Sundar added a brisk 36. However, once this trio was dismissed, the innings fell apart dramatically.
This is where Ashok Sharma, playing his first Vijay Hazare season, seized the moment. The young speedster ran through the middle and lower order, finishing with magnificent career-best figures of 5 wickets for 58 runs. He received able support from left-arm spinner and captain Manav Suthar, who took 3 crucial wickets for 44 runs. Deepak Hooda and Khaleel Ahmed also claimed a wicket each as Tamil Nadu lost their last six batters for single-digit scores, collapsing from a position of strength to be all out for 215 in 41.4 overs.
A Vital Win and Player of the Match
This thrilling victory marked Rajasthan's first win in the tournament after suffering four consecutive defeats, providing a massive boost to their campaign. For his decisive spell that turned the game on its head, Ashok Sharma was deservedly awarded the Player of the Match honour. The result highlights the unpredictable and competitive nature of domestic cricket's premier 50-over tournament.
Brief Scores: Rajasthan 225 in 46.5 overs (Deepak Hooda 70, Manav Suthar 43; Varun Chakravarthy 4-25) beat Tamil Nadu 215 in 41.4 overs (Narayan Jagadeesan 71, Athish SR 54; Ashok Sharma 5-58, Manav Suthar 3-44) by 10 runs.
