Saurashtra vs Maharashtra Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022 Final Highlights: Ton-up Sheldon Jackson Guides SAU to 5-wicket Win

Saurashtra become the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022 champions. Tough luck for Maharashtra skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad whose 108-run knock goes in vain. It was visibly evident that Maharashtra fell at least 30 runs short, given the way Sheldon Jackson batted in the big final. The Saurashtra opener carried his bat, scoring an unbeaten 133 off 136 balls which he will surely cherish in the days to come. He never looked unfazed in the chase of 249. After the humongous 125-run opening stand between him and Harvik Desai was breached by Mukesh Kumar, Sheldon took the onus entirely on his shoulders while the rest of the batters were there back him up. Getting a hundred in the big was simply a statement from him that Saurashtra are here to win the title at any cost. He smashed 5 sixes and 12 boundaries during his match-winning knock. For Maharashtra, young spinner Vicky Ostwal was the pick of the bowlers, returning figures of 2/20 in 10 overs. Choudhary’s figures read 2/38 in 9 overs while Satyajeet Bachhav got one (1/66). Ruturaj ended the season with 552 runs from 4 games, averaging 276. He got 3 centuries in the tournament with the highest score of 220 not out against Uttar Pradesh in the quarterfinals.

Vicky Ostwal and Satyajeet Bachhav have further jolted Saurashtra, getting rid of Arpit Vasavada (15) and Prerak Mankad (1). But the hopes are pinned on Sheldon who is the man in form.

SAU: 192/5 after 39.5 overs

What a knock Sheldon Jackson has played in the big final. He gets a hundred and Saurashtra are inching towards a famous title win,

SAU: 183/3 after 37.1 overs

After Saurashtra lose three quick wickets, the onus of the chase has fallen on the shoulders of Sheldon Jackson. Maharashtra are searching for chances to bounce back while Jackson is approaching a hundred.

SAU: 155/3 after 34 overs.

Saurashtra’s formidable opening stand of 125 runs has been finally breached and the job has been done by Mukesh Choudhary. Harvik Desai gets caught at mid-on by SS Bachhav and then Jay Gogil falls for a 2-ball duck on the final delivery of the 27th over.

SAU: 125/2 after 27 overs

Harvik Desai brings up his fifty and the opening partnership for Saurashtra goes past 120. The Jaydev Undadkat-led side has reached the half-way mark in the chase of 249 and eyeing a comfortable win, given the start they got from the openers in the crucial final.

SAU: 123/0 after 25 overs

Absolutely cantering is what Sheldon Jackson is doing here. Saurashtra in cruise control mode, Jackson, after a lean patch of form, has regained his form at the right time. He is making mockery of the Maharashtra bowling attack. Also, mind you, Maharashtra bowlers have been poor – nowhere near the disciplined way with with Saurashtra bowlers went about their business earlier in the day. Harik Desai moves to 30 off  40. SAU 96/0 vs MAH

Sheldon Jackson in his elements and he is running away with the game single-handedly. Two sixes off one Satyajeet Bahhav’s over and he motors to 47 off 58 balls. Harvik Desai is relatively sedate as is on 22 off 32 balls, Saurashtra 74/0 in 15 vs Maharashtra (248/8)

Saurashtra enjoying batting second on the Motera track and are off to a breezy start. Sheldon Jackson moves to 21 courtesy of back-to-back boundaries off Rajvardhan Hangargekar. Harvik Desai is on 14 off 24. SAU 38/0 in 10 vs MAH

Harvik Desai with a blistering cut – half-tracker from Mukesh Choudhary and Desai takes full advantage off that. 5 overs done, SUA 13/0

Mukesh Choudhary to start the proceedings in the second half. Harvik Desai and Sheldon Jackson are the openers and Desai plays out a maiden. The ball jags back in from Choudhary. SAU 0/0 in 1

Naushad Shaikh with some valuable runs — he hits 3 back-to-back fours off Khushang Patel and Maharashtra finish with 248/8. A good recovery this from Maharashtra. Ruturaj Gaikwad led with 108 off 131 balls after a fantastic startby Saurashtra in the first 10 overs. But Gaikwad hung in there with Satyjeet Bacchav and Azim Kazi to steer Maharashtra in the middle overs. But Saurashtra came back in the backend with regular stirkes.

What a game Chirag Jani is having. A direct run-out and good catch and fantastic spell and finished off with three wickets on the trot. A hat-trick, Maharashtra’s firepower back in the hut in a jiffy. Saurabh Navale, Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Vicky Ostwal all back in the hut. MAH 236/8 in 49 overs

Azim Kazi departs for 37 off 33 balls Another key wicket for Saurashtra this, Prerak Mankad the bowler. MAH 205/5 in 44

Big moment in the match as Saurashtra’s stellar fielding comes to the fore. Ruturaj Gaikwad was looking in ominous touch and could have dented Saurashtra in the slog overs. But not to be as he departs for a well made 108 off 131 deliveries. Run out by Prerak Mankad and JAydev Unadkat. MAH 199/4 in 42 overs

Another 100 for Ruturaj Gaikwad – off 125 balls. Gaikwad has upped the ante and how!!! To back-to-back sixes to reach the milestone

Maharashtra up the ante. Dharmendrasinh Jadeja goes for 17 runs in his 8th over. A six from Azim Kazi after Gaikwad picked up two boundaries. MAH 150/3 in 37 overs 

That’s 50 for Ruturaj Gaikwad off 96 balls. 2 fours and a six and then follows in up with a sweep and four off D Jadeja. Signs for Gaikwad to put his foot down

WICKET! Jaydev Unadkat returns scalps the big wicket of Ankit Bawne. He departs for 16 #MAH 105/3

100 up for Maharashtra! in the 30th over. It has been slow progress for Maharashtra, but then again they have two of their best batters in the middle and from here on they can score heavily, with enough firepower to come as well. Gaikward is on 47 off 92 balls, Ankit Bawne on 15 off 19. MAH 102/2 in 30 vs SAU