Saurashtra delivered a commanding performance to defeat Punjab by nine wickets in the second Vijay Hazare Trophy semifinal in Bengaluru on Friday. The team chased down a target of 292 runs with remarkable ease, finishing the job in just 39.3 overs.
Openers Set the Tone Early
Saurashtra openers Harvik Desai and Vishvaraj Jadeja needed only four overs to settle in. They quickly shifted gears and launched a brutal assault on the Punjab bowling attack.
Vishvaraj Jadeja's Dominant Innings
Vishvaraj Jadeja played a spectacular unbeaten knock of 165 runs off just 127 balls. His innings included 18 fours and three sixes. He reached his third century of the season in only 74 deliveries.
The dismantling of Punjab's bowling began in the fifth over. Vishvaraj danced down the track to loft Gurnoor Brar over midwicket. He followed that shot with a crisp flick to the boundary.
Punjab's Bowling Struggles
Punjab's bowlers had no answers to the onslaught. Krish Bhagat suffered particularly badly, conceding 23 runs in a single over during the assault.
By the end of the seventh over, it became clear that Saurashtra wanted an early finish to the day-night contest. The team had won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision that proved absolutely correct.
Target Made to Look Easy
Saurashtra made the 292-run target set by Punjab look like child's play. The team overhauled the total with 63 balls to spare, demonstrating complete dominance.
Punjab faced an additional setback when they received a five-run penalty for running on the pitch. This reduced the target slightly, but it made little difference to the final outcome.
Brief Scores
Punjab: 291 all out in 50 overs (Anmolpreet Singh 100, Prabhsimran Singh 87; Chetan Sakariya 4/60)
Saurashtra: 293/1 in 39.3 overs (Vishvaraj Jadeja 165 not out, Harvik Desai 64)
Result: Saurashtra won by 9 wickets
The victory sends Saurashtra into the Vijay Hazare Trophy final, where they will look to claim the domestic one-day championship title.
