Rajasthan Edge Karnataka in Last-Ball Thriller
In a heart-stopping encounter at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, the Rajasthan cricket team pulled off a miraculous one-run victory against a determined Karnataka side in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy. This dramatic win marks Rajasthan's third consecutive triumph in the tournament, solidifying their position as strong contenders.
Rajasthan's Commanding Batting Display
After being put in to bat first by Karnataka captain Mayank Agarwal, Rajasthan faced an early setback with the cheap dismissal of Shubham Garhwal for just 7 runs. However, the team mounted a brilliant recovery, powered by quick-fire innings from their middle order. Deepak Hooda (43), Kartik Sharma (46), and Mahipal Lomror (48 not out) provided the crucial momentum, enabling Rajasthan to post a challenging total of 201 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs. The Karnataka bowlers, Vidyadhar Patil and Vysakh Vijayakumar, managed to claim two wickets each.
Karnataka's Valiant Chase Falls Agonizingly Short
Chasing a target of 202, Karnataka's innings got off to a shaky start, losing early wickets including that of their captain, Agarwal, and KL Shrijith, reducing them to 19 for 2. A promising 32 from Devdutt Padikkal offered some hope, but the game truly turned with a spectacular 82-run partnership between Karun Nair (51 off 32 balls) and R Smaran (48 not out). At 133 for 3 in the 15th over, Karnataka seemed to be cruising towards victory.
The momentum shifted dramatically when Rajasthan's bowlers struck back, taking four quick wickets for just 22 runs. The dismissal of Karun Nair, Abhinov Manohar, Shreyas Gopal, and Praveen Dubey left Karnataka reeling at 155 for 7. Just when all seemed lost, Vidyadhar Patil blazed a spectacular 27 off just 8 balls, including three sixes and two fours, to reignite the chase before falling to pacer Kamlesh Nagarkoti (3/52).
The final over arrived with Karnataka needing 15 runs to win. A six by Vysakh Vijayakumar and a four by Smaran brought the equation down to a nail-biting 3 runs required from the final delivery. In a climax that had fans on the edge of their seats, Karnataka could only manage a single run, finishing at 200 for 8, handing Rajasthan a win by the slimmest of margins.
Tournament Standings and Aftermath
This victory earned Rajasthan 4 crucial points, taking their tournament total to 12 from three matches. They now sit second in Group D, level on points with Jharkhand but behind on net run-rate. Rajasthan medium-pacer Akash Singh was adjudged the Man of the Match for his pivotal bowling performance. The match will be remembered as a classic example of T20 cricket's unpredictable and thrilling nature, where the game is never over until the last ball is bowled.
