Vidarbha and Punjab secure dominant victories to enter Vijay Hazare Trophy semifinals
Vidarbha and Punjab showcased their cricketing prowess on Tuesday, securing convincing wins to enter the semifinals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. Both teams delivered dominant performances at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru, setting up exciting knockout clashes later this week.
Vidarbha overpowers Delhi with all-round display
Vidarbha, last season's runners-up, defeated Delhi by 76 runs in a comprehensive quarterfinal victory. Asked to bat first, Vidarbha posted a competitive total of 300 for nine in their allotted 50 overs.
Yash Rathod led the batting charge with a solid 86 runs, while opener Atharva Taide contributed 62 valuable runs. Dhruv Shorey added 49 runs from 71 deliveries, featuring seven boundaries. The 90-run partnership between Taide and Shorey proved crucial after Vidarbha lost opener Aman Mokhade early in the innings.
Delhi's chase never gained momentum as they struggled against Vidarbha's disciplined bowling attack. The Capital team missed key players Rishabh Pant and Ayush Badoni, which significantly weakened their batting lineup.
Seamer Nachiket Bhute emerged as the destroyer-in-chief, claiming four wickets for just 51 runs from 7.1 overs. Captain Harsh Dubey supported him brilliantly with his left-arm spin, taking three wickets for 36 runs from nine overs.
Delhi's innings folded at 224 runs in 45.1 overs. Wicketkeeper-batter Anuj Rawat top-scored with 66 runs from 98 balls, but received little support from his teammates. Priyansh Arya provided brief excitement with a quickfire 28 from 17 balls, while Nitish Rana's golden duck dealt another blow to Delhi's hopes.
Punjab demolishes Madhya Pradesh with batting blitz
Punjab delivered an even more emphatic performance, crushing Madhya Pradesh by a massive 183 runs. Their batting lineup fired on all cylinders, amassing an imposing total of 345 for six in 50 overs.
Captain Prabhsimran Singh led from the front with a brilliant 88 runs from just 86 deliveries. He received excellent support from Anmolpreet Singh, who smashed 70 runs from 62 balls, and Nehal Wadhera, who contributed a rapid 56 from 38 deliveries.
Openers Prabhsimran and Harnoor Singh set the foundation with a commanding 166-run partnership in just over 21 overs. Harnoor anchored the innings with a steady 51 from 71 balls, while Ramandeep Singh provided late fireworks with 24 runs from just 15 deliveries.
Madhya Pradesh's chase never gained traction as they collapsed to 162 all out in just 31.2 overs. The early damage proved irreparable when they slumped to 66 for five in the 17th over.
Rajat Patidar offered some resistance with 38 runs from 40 balls, but his effort proved insufficient against Punjab's bowling attack. Sanvir Singh emerged as the most successful bowler, claiming three wickets for 31 runs from his six overs.
Semifinal matchups set for thrilling encounters
The victories set up intriguing semifinal clashes that promise exciting cricket. Vidarbha will face Karnataka on Thursday in a repeat of last season's title match. This encounter carries extra significance as both teams seek redemption and glory.
Punjab will take on Saurashtra on Friday, bringing together two formidable teams with strong domestic credentials. Both matches will be played at the same venue in Bengaluru, where conditions have favored competitive cricket throughout the tournament.
These results highlight the growing strength of domestic cricket in India, with teams from different regions showcasing their talent and determination. The Vijay Hazare Trophy continues to serve as an important platform for emerging players to make their mark on the national stage.
Cricket enthusiasts can look forward to two days of intense semifinal action as these four teams battle for a place in the tournament final. The performances so far suggest that both matches will be closely contested affairs, with each team possessing the firepower to claim victory.
