How Did Sammar Gajjar Propel Saurashtra to Victory Over Railways?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Bengaluru, Jan 3 (NationPress) Sammar Gajjar delivered an impressive performance, scoring 147 runs off 135 balls, leading Saurashtra to a 31-run victory over Railways in their Elite Group D match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the Alur Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Gajjar's innings, which included 14 boundaries and four sixes, played a pivotal role in Saurashtra's total of 294/8 after Railways opted to field first. Hetvik Kotak contributed 37 runs, while Prerak Mankad added 28 runs. For Railways, bowlers Kunal Yadav and Z.A. Khan took three wickets each.
In response, Railways were dismissed for 263 in 49.1 overs, despite a resilient 86 runs from Upendra Yadav and a quick 65 runs off 45 balls from Ashutosh Sharma, who struck six fours and three sixes.
Ankur Panwar and Mankad each claimed three wickets for Saurashtra, while all-rounder Chirag Jani took two wickets. Gajjar was awarded Player of the Match for his outstanding performance.
Axar Patel, the Indian all-rounder, also shone by scoring his first List A century, an unbeaten 130 runs off 111 balls, helping Gujarat narrowly defeat Andhra by seven runs. Patel's innings came as Gujarat was in trouble at 99/5.
His knock, featuring 10 boundaries and five sixes, established a vital 142-run partnership with Vishal Jayswal, who scored 70 runs off 60 balls, as Gujarat set a competitive target beyond Andhra's reach.
Meanwhile, Parth Vats, a young all-rounder, excelled by taking 3-60 with the ball and then scoring an unbeaten 157 runs to lead Haryana to a four-wicket victory over Odisha, with eight balls to spare.
The 21-year-old's first-class debut this season saw him first restrict Odisha to 305 for nine with his left-arm spin before spearheading Haryana's chase of 306. His maiden List A century included 13 fours and five sixes, aiding in the recovery after his team was down to 14/3.
Brief scores:
Saurashtra: 294/8 in 50 overs (Sammar Gajjar 147; Kunal Yadav 3-71) defeated Railways: 263 in 49.1 overs (Upendra Yadav 86, Ashutosh Sharma 65; Prerak Mankad 3-48, Ankur Panwar 3-49) by 31 runs.
Gujarat: 318/9 in 50 overs (Axar Patel 130, Vishal Jayswal 70; Satyanarayana Raju 4-53, Midde Anjaneyulu 2-45) defeated Andhra: 311/7 in 50 overs (CR Gnaneshwar 102, SD Prasad 48 not out; Ravi Bishnoi 3-64, Axar Patel 2-27) by seven runs.
Odisha: 305/9 in 50 overs (Swastik Samal 101, Govinda Poddar 77; Parth Vats 3-60, Anuj Thakral 3-68) lost to Haryana: 309/6 in 48.4 overs (Parth Vats 157 not out, Anuj Thakral 59 not out) by four wickets.