Vidarbha cricket team secures first domestic 50-over championship title.
History was made in Bengaluru this Sunday as Vidarbha clinched their first-everVijay Hazare Trophytitle. In a high-stakes final that tested the nerves of both sides, Vidarbha defeated a strong Saurashtra unit by 38 runs. The victory was built on a foundation of solid batting led by Atharva Taide and a disciplined bowling attack spearheaded by Yash Thakur.
Taide and Rathod Set the Stage
Saurashtra won the toss and opted to field, hoping to restrict the opposition. However, Vidarbha’s batters had different plans. Opener Atharva Taide played the innings of his life, smashing a magnificent century. His knock of 128 runs came off just 118 balls, decorated with 15 boundaries and three sixes.
Taide found an able partner in Yash Rathod. Together, they stitched a massive 133-run partnership that took the game away from Saurashtra. Rathod contributed a swift 54 runs, helping Vidarbha post a daunting total of 317/8 in their 50 overs.
Another highlight of the innings was Aman Mokhade. During his knock, he entered an elite club by crossing 800 runs in a single edition of the tournament. He is now only the third batter in history to achieve this feat, joining the ranks of Prithvi Shaw and N Jagadeesan.
Saurashtra Falters in Chase
Chasing 318 for victory, Saurashtra needed a strong start but faced a hostile bowling attack. Prerak Mankad fought valiantly with a gritty 88 runs, and Chirag Jani added a quickfire 64, but the rest of the batting lineup crumbled under pressure.
Bowlers Seal the Deal
Vidarbha’s bowling unit was relentless. Pacer Yash Thakur was the pick of the bowlers, delivering a match-winning spell. He claimed four crucial wickets (4/50), breaking the backbone of the Saurashtra chase.
He was well-supported by Nachiket Bhute and Darshan Nalkande, who shared five wickets between them. Their collective effort bundled Saurashtra out for 279 in 48.5 overs, ensuring theVidarbha cricket teametched their name on the prestigious trophy for the first time.
With Agency Inputs
