Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025: Abhijeet Tomar’s century guides Rajasthan to quarterfinals with win over Tamil Nadu
Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025: Abhijeet Tomar’s century guides Rajasthan to quarterfinals with win over Tamil Nadu
Abhijeet Tomar’s well-paced century (111, 125b, 12×4, 4×6) and a disciplined all-round bowling effort powered Rajasthan to a 19-run win over Tamil Nadu in the pre-quarterfinals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy here at the Kotambi Stadium on Thursday.
Asked to bat first, Rajasthan was bowled out for 267 despite Tomar’s heroics and skipper Mahipal Lomoror’s breezy half-century (60, 49b, 3×4, 4×6) at the top of the order. The duo forged a 160-run alliance for the second wicket off just 132 balls and laid the platform for a big total.
However, Varun Chakaravarthy (five for 52) bowled TN back into the contest, running through Rajasthan’s batting line-up as he scalped his fourth List A five-wicket haul.
In reply, TN got off to a flyer when N. Jagadeesan (65) smashed pacer Aman Singh Shekawat for six boundaries in the second over of the chase. The five-time champion was in complete control, managing 70 for two in the first PowerPlay.
Even though Rajasthan pulled things back through their spinners once the field spread out, Jagadeeesan and B. Indrajith kept the asking rate in check. But a spate of soft dismissals saw the southern side squander their advantage. Jagadeesan first lofted left-arm spinner Ajay Kookna straight to long-off before Indrajith’s half-hearted ramp off Shekhawat went straight to the third-man fielder.
Vijay Shankar (49) and S. Mohamed Ali (34) calmed the nerves for a while, stitching a 51-run partnership for the fifth wicket. The young Mohamed Ali looked serene, cutting and pulling the pacers with elan. But at a crucial juncture, Mohamed Ali set off for a non-existent single from the non-striker’s end and ran himself out. It was the opening Rajasthan needed to close out the contest and set-up a quarterfinal clash against Vidarbha on Sunday.
Earlier, Tomar, who was dropped on zero, was watchful in the first ten overs before unleashing his full range of strokeplay. The 29-year-old cut loose by dispatching Vijay Shankar for a lofted maximum and then pulled him over mid-wicket for a boundary.
He then welcomed Varun into the attack by smashing the mystery spinner over midwicket and then lofted him over long-on to bring up his half-century in style.
The Rajasthan opener used his reach to hit through the line and punished anything short by essaying the cut shot to good effect against the tweakers.
Tomar then raced to his fourth List A century through a series of boundaries, including a pristine straight drive off pacer Trilok Nag. But just when Rajasthan looked set for a big total, Varun struck thrice in three overs to bring his side back into the contest. Lomror’s side slumped from 209 for three to 267 in the 48th over, but in the end, it proved enough.
