Uttar Pradesh maintained their flawless record in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023-24, securing a commanding 58-run victory over Jammu & Kashmir in a pool match at Rajkot's Niranjan Shah Stadium on Saturday. This marks UP's fifth consecutive win in the tournament, a streak where they have consistently breached the 300-run mark.
UP's Batting Powerhouse on Display
Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Uttar Pradesh put up a formidable total of 322 for 5 in their allotted 48 overs. The innings was built on solid half-centuries from Dhruv Chand Jurel (55) and Priyam Garg (54), but it was Sameer Rizvi's explosive, unbeaten 80 that provided the late fireworks.
The start was shaky for UP, as they found themselves at 43 for 2. However, a crucial 114-run partnership for the third wicket between Jurel and Garg steadied the ship and laid the foundation for a big score. Jurel's 55 came off 55 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes, while Garg scored 54 before both fell in quick succession.
Rizvi and Veer Provide Explosive Finish
After the dismissals, captain Rinku Singh (41) joined Sameer Rizvi to add 80 runs for the fourth wicket. Following Rinku's departure, Rizvi found an aggressive partner in Prashant Veer. The duo unleashed a devastating assault, stitching together an unbeaten 76-run stand in just 32 balls to propel UP past 300.
Rizvi remained not out on a brilliant 80 from only 45 deliveries, hitting 6 fours and 5 sixes. Prashant Veer complemented him perfectly with a rapid 37 not out from 18 balls, which included 6 fours and a six. For Jammu & Kashmir, Aqib Nabi was the most successful bowler, claiming 2 wickets.
Jammu & Kashmir's Valiant Chase Falls Short
Chasing a challenging target of 323, Jammu & Kashmir began steadily with openers Kamran Iqbal and Shubham Khajuria putting on 76 runs. Kamran's innings ended on 32 due to a sharp run-out effected by Kuldeep Singh Yadav. Shubham Khajuria played a fine knock of 60 off 59 balls with 8 boundaries before being caught behind off Zeeshan Ansari.
The backbone of the J&K innings was played by one-down batter Yavar Hassan, who scored a valiant, unbeaten 85 off 78 balls, striking 4 fours and 4 sixes. He anchored the chase, forming useful partnerships, including a 52-run stand for the eighth wicket with Aqib Nabi (30) and an unbroken 32-run partnership for the ninth wicket with M Ashwin (16*). Despite his efforts, J&K finished at 264 for 8 in their 48 overs, falling 58 runs short.
Bowling and Coaching Insights
For Uttar Pradesh, the spin duo delivered the goods. Zeeshan Ansari was the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets for 49 runs, while star spinner Kuldeep Singh Yadav chipped in with 2 crucial wickets for 47 runs.
UP coach Arvind Kapoor, speaking to The Times of India, expressed satisfaction with the team's performance. He highlighted that while no batter scored a century, the top order contributed valuable runs and built key partnerships to post a strong total. Kapoor also praised the effective bowling by Kuldeep and Zeeshan in defending the target.
Brief Scores:
Uttar Pradesh: 322/5 in 48 overs (Sameer Rizvi 80*, Dhruv Chand Jurel 55, Priyam Garg 54, Prashant Veer 37*; Aqib Nabi 2/73).
Jammu & Kashmir: 264/8 in 48 overs (Yavar Hassan 85*, Shubham Khajuria 60, Kamran Iqbal 32, Aqib Nabi 30; Zeeshan Ansari 3/49, Kuldeep Singh Yadav 2/47).
