Hooda partnered with Karan Lamba for a fourth-wicket partnership of 255 runs, rescuing Rajasthan from a precarious position of 23 for 3, while Karnataka succumbed to a six-wicket loss in the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Deepak Hooda spearheaded an impressive comeback by scoring 180 runs off 128 balls, guiding Rajasthan to their first Vijay Hazare Trophy final in 16 years. His stellar performance played a crucial role in securing a six-wicket victory over Karnataka in Rajkot.
Remarkable Comeback in the Vijay Hazare Trophy
At 23 for 3 in pursuit of 283, Rajasthan witnessed a remarkable turnaround as Hooda partnered with Karan Lamba for a fourth-wicket collaboration, amassing a total of 255 runs. This effort not only propelled the team but also led to Hooda achieving his personal best List A score.
Opting to bat first, Karnataka experienced an early setback as captain Mayank Agarwal departed for 13 in the sixth over. Following this, opening partner R Samarth also fell, scoring 8 off 21 balls in the ninth over. Krishnan Shrijith and Nikin Jose then formed a partnership, contributing 46 runs before Ajay Singh, the left-arm spinner, intervened by dismissing Nikin Jose. Shortly afterward, Rahul Chahar dismissed Shrijith for 21, leaving Karnataka at 87 for 4.
Batting at No. 6, Abhinav Manohar breathed vitality into Karnataka’s innings with a 91-run innings off 80 balls. He forged significant partnerships, contributing 89 with Manish Pandey and 95 with Manoj Bhandage. During his innings, Manohar struck 10 fours and three sixes, elevating Karnataka’s total to 282. His notable performance concluded on the last ball of the innings, marking his highest List A score.
Conversely, Rajasthan faced an early setback as both their openers were dismissed without scoring in just 1.2 overs, courtesy of V Koushik and Vijaykumar Vyshak’s effective new-ball bowling for Karnataka. Mahipal Lomror managed to strike three fours in his brief 17-ball stint but fell to Bhandage shortly after. Subsequently, Lamba partnered with Hooda at the crease. Predict the winning game, check out our Daman Games Prediction page.
Hooda took a patient approach to get accustomed, registering his initial boundary on the 24th ball he faced. Gradually, the pair began to connect with the boundaries, establishing a 50-run partnership in 62 balls. Although they propelled the total beyond 100 in the 22nd over, Rajasthan was still trailing in terms of the required run rate at that point.
Hooda reached his fifty with a six in the same over, facing 53 balls. Subsequently, he shifted gears, showcasing an array of boundaries and sixes, achieving his century in just 32 additional balls. His hundred was sealed with a boundary in the 30th over.
Running Equation
Meanwhile, Lamba reached his half-century in the very next over, facing 76 balls. By that point, the partnership had reduced the required equation to 102 runs off 19 overs.
After reaching his century, Hooda aggressively accumulated seven fours and three sixes, reaching a total of 180 runs before K Gowtham dismissed him in the 42nd over, with Rajasthan requiring only five runs to secure victory. In the same over, Lamba sealed the win by hitting a four, concluding on a score of 73, as Karnataka fell short in the match. Read more cricket news here at Daman Games Tips..
Ending Score: Rajasthan 283 for 4 (Hooda 180, Lamba 73*) beat Karnataka 282 for 8 (Manohar 91, Bhandage 63, Ajay 2-43) by six wickets
