Captain Rajat Patidar exhibited remarkable skill in chasing down targets, scoring an unbeaten 132 runs off 137 balls to guide Madhya Pradesh to a convincing six-wicket victory over Bengal in the final round match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy held at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday. The match underscored Patidar’s ability to anchor an innings, illustrating the strategy needed for successful run-chases.
Despite this loss, Bengal secured its place in the knockout stage of the tournament, finishing with 18 points in Group E. Baroda, who topped the group, ended with 20 points, thus qualifying alongside Bengal for the next phase of the competition.
Madhya Pradesh’s innings began poorly when they lost opener Harsh Gawali to a delivery from Indian pacer Mohammed Shami. Gawali snicked the away-swinging ball to wicketkeeper Abishek Porel on the very first ball of the match, setting a troubling tone for Madhya Pradesh. Adding to their woes, left-arm pacer Kanishk Seth caused a further setback by inducing an edge from Himanshu Mantri's bat, which placed Madhya Pradesh in a precarious state just 1.4 overs into their innings.
However, the situation took a positive turn as Shubham Sharma and Patidar formed a resilient third-wicket partnership. Their collaboration yielded 185 runs, turning the tide in favor of Madhya Pradesh and placing Bengal on the defensive. Shubham Sharma, who played a vital role in this partnership, scored 99 runs from 104 balls, hitting ten boundaries and a six. As he approached his century, he struck two boundaries and ran two runs off pacer Sayan Ghosh. Unfortunately, cramps beset him, leading to his dismissal as he holed out to a fielder at cover, denying him a well-deserved century.
Though Madhya Pradesh was already out of contention for the knockout phase, Patidar maintained his focus, opting against celebrating his individual achievement. He chose instead to guide his team home, showcasing calm determination and leadership until the end of the match.
Earlier in the contest, Bengal’s captain Sudip Kumar Gharami also fell short of his century, scoring 99 runs from 125 deliveries. His innings was marked by six fours and three sixes before he inadvertently dragged a delivery from pacer Avesh Khan onto his stumps while attempting a tentative cut shot. Gharami’s performance was complemented by a 92-run partnership with Sudip Chatterjee, who contributed 47 runs off 57 balls before getting run out.
Adding to Bengal's tally, Mohammed Shami provided a notable finish to the innings with a brisk 42 not out from just 34 balls, hitting five boundaries and one six. This late surge helped Bengal achieve a total of 269 runs, which initially seemed daunting but ultimately proved insufficient against Madhya Pradesh's composed chase led by Patidar.
The match exemplified the intricacies of one-day cricket and showcased several key performances that shaped the outcome. Patidar and Sharma's partnership underscored the importance of resilience and teamwork, while Bengal's early breakthroughs emphasized the critical nature of starting strong in limited-overs cricket. The encounter provided a learning experience for all players involved, highlighting the volatile nature of chasing targets in the competitive landscape of Indian domestic cricket.