Vijay Hazare Trophy: Hyderabad pulls off tense chase to beat table-topper Karnataka
Vijay Hazare Trophy: Hyderabad pulls off tense chase to beat table-topper Karnataka
A third consecutive three-figure knock from Karnataka captain Mayank Agarwal proved to be in vain as Hyderabad pulled off a tense chase to beat the table-topper by three wickets in the Group C Vijay Hazare Trophy encounter in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
Varun Goud’s fighting century (109 n.o., 82b, 7×4, 5×6) and a composed knock from skipper Tilak Varma (99, 106b, 7×4, 1×6) helped the team chase down the 321-run target with two balls to spare, condemning the opposition to its first defeat of the league phase.
Hyderabad had a sedate start to the chase after opener Rohit Rayudu was dismissed for a first-baller by Abhilash Shetty. Tilak and Tanmay Agarwal forged a solid but patient stand of 70 before the latter pulled one to Nikin Jose at short mid-wicket to depart for 35.
Tilak played risk-free cricket, stroking the ball along the ground to the fielders in the deep to keep the scoreboard ticking. The chase suffered a jolt when Hyderabad lost two quick wickets to spin, but Tilak and Varun Goud put on a 112-run stand to take the game deep.
After knocking the ball around till the 35th over, Varun took on Shreyas Gopal, bringing out the slog sweep and the traditional sweep to collect ten runs in two balls to hasten the chase. At the other end, Tilak was left distraught after he hit a short and wide ball from Nikin straight to Pravin Dubey at point with just one run needed to complete his century.
After the skipper fell, Varun took up the mantle of scoring, building crucial partnerships with the lower order before bringing out a few lusty blows at the end to complete his hundred and win the game for his side.
Earlier, Karnataka got off to a brisk start in the first PowerPlay after opting to bat first. With no movement on offer, the Hyderabad pacers were guilty of dishing out a few overpitched deliveries, which were duly driven through the covers by Mayank (124, 112b, 15×4, 2×6). The spinners too, struggled to control the length early on in their spell, with Mayank and Nikin Jose pulling them through midwicket.
Off-spinner Rayudu forced Nikin to hit one straight to short midwicket, ending a 91-run opening stand. The scoring rate dropped once the wicket fell as the short cover and short midwicket fielders cut off avenues for singles.
Mayank nudged the ball around, occasionally playing the paddle sweep to good effect and brought up his hundred in 95 balls. R. Smaran played a solid hand, combining with the skipper for a hundred-run partnership. The southpaw was severe against full balls, lofting them over midwicket and long on to give impetus to the innings.
The final flourish never came as the middle-order batters perished in a bid to press on the accelerator. Handy boundaries at the death from Pravin Dubey and Shreyas Gopal helped the team post 320 at the end of 50 overs, which Hyderabad chased down.
Karnataka 320/8 in 50 overs (Mayank Agarwal 125, Smaran R 83, C.V. Milind 3/66) lost to Hyderabad 322/7 in 49.4 overs (Tilak Varma 99, Varun Goud 109 n.o.)
