Match Details
5:06 PM IST | Champion!!!! 🏆 Champion!!!! 🏆 So, we have the champions for the 2022-23 Vijay Hazare Trophy and it is Saurashtra. They have won the title for the second time in the history of the tournament and it was the ‘Jackson Show’ that made it possible for them.
Jaydev Unadkat won the toss and keeping the conditions in mind decided to field first. Much like the semi-final, the Saurashtra bowlers were economical once again. The Maharashtra batters were suffocated by the bowlers and batting seemed very difficult for them.
But the Maharashtra skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad did not lose his composure and continued to fight the battle for his team. While runs were not coming and also wickets were falling at frequent intervals, Gaikwad held the innings together.
As he completed his 3rd consecutive hundred of the tournament, Gaikwad tried to take the initiative for his team. But as he was looking settled he was dismissed for 108 runs off 131 balls and was the fourth man to be dismissed for Maharasthra, when the team’s score was 199 runs in 42 overs.
Azim Kazi (37 off 33) and Naushad Shaikh(31 off 23) played useful little cameos to take the team’s total to a fighting 248 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their 50 overs. Chirag Jani was the pick of the bowlers for Saurashtra, he also got a hat trick to his name.
Saurashtra walked out to chase down the target and started dominating the match with their patient, gutsy and clever batting. The opening partnership was of 125 runs and it looked like they will win the match pretty easily.
But Mukesh Choudhary shifted the match in Mahrashtra’s favour as he picked up the wickets of Harvik Desai (50 off 67) and Jay Gohil (0 off 2) in the 27th over of the innings. But Sheldon Jackson, who found his form back in this all-important encounter, looked determined and carried on.
Jackson completed his century off 116 balls and ensured that things remained calm from one end. He accelerated at the right moment and controlled the pace of the chase perfectly to take his team home. Although a few wickets fell towards the end and there was a bit of nerve, Jackson kept his composure even when the ship looked unsteady.
Chirag Jani played an important knock of 30 runs from 25 balls to aid Jackson in his stellar efforts. Jackson remained unbeaten on 133 off 136 balls taking his team across the line.
Saurashtra won the match by 5 wickets with 3.3 overs left in the match. This marks the end of the Vijay Hazare Trophy for this season and we see a truly inspirational leader in Jaydev Unadkat lifting the trophy for his team.