Vijay Hazare Trophy: It was a breathtaking display of batting as K Sreejith’s match-winning century ensured Karnataka chased down a massive 383 runs to gain entry into the history books of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
With an unbeaten 150 runs off just 101 balls, Sreejith’s heroics overpowered Mumbai captain Shreyas Iyer’s blistering century as Karnataka made the second-highest successful chase in the history of the tournament.
Record Chase: Karnataka’s Stunning Victory in Vijay Hazare Trophy
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Karnataka’s chase of 383 runs was the second-highest successful chase in the history of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Andhra had set the highest-ever chase in the tournament’s history when they chased 384 runs against Goa in the 2011-12 season. Karnataka chased the runs with 3.4 overs to spare, which showed the aggressive and efficient batting display by the team.
Sreejith, who had played only his third List A match, came to the forefront for Karnataka and was crucial in their victory with an attacking 150 not out. His innings comprised both calculated aggression and calm composure as he guided his team to the target at an impressive strike rate. It was not only that his knock helped Karnataka surpass the target but also eclipsed the strong total of 382 by Mumbai, making Iyer’s excellent century turn unproductive.
Shreyas Iyer’s explosive century goes in vain in Vijay Hazare Trophy
Mumbai’s innings were constructed around an aggressive and fiery knock by Shreyas Iyer, who went on to remain unbeaten on 114 runs off just 55 balls. Iyer’s innings had five fours and ten sixes as he tore into the Karnataka bowling at the end of the innings. Iyer’s mighty batting came at a vital stage when Mumbai was put at 148/2 after 30 overs, with the structure for a big score well laid by his teammates.
Earlier, Hardik Tamore and Ayush Mhatre had already built a strong partnership, scoring 141 runs between them. Tamore scored 84 runs off 94 balls, while Mhatre contributed 78 runs off 82 balls, forming the core of Mumbai’s total. Once they departed, Iyer did well with Tamore and then with Suryakumar Yadav, building key partnerships that helped push Mumbai’s score forward.
Iyer’s alliance with Shivam Dubey proved to be particularly disastrous, as the duo added 148 runs off the last 65 balls. Dubey scored a quickfire 63 runs off 36 balls, while Iyer finished his innings with 74 runs off just 29 balls.
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Despite Iyer’s heroics, Mumbai’s score of 382 runs was not enough to defend, thanks to Sreejith’s explosive knock and Karnataka’s fast-paced batting approach. The Mumbai bowlers, including Shardul Thakur, who went for 72 runs in six overs, struggled to contain Karnataka’s batting attack.
Karnataka’s Dominant Batting Performance
While Mumbai’s innings were filled with explosive hitting, Karnataka’s chase was guided by a steady yet aggressive approach. Karnataka were in a bit of a spot early in their chase, having lost both openers—Nikkin Jose (21 off 13 balls) and Mayank Agarwal (47 off 48 balls)—by the 15th over, leaving them at 106/2. However, Sreejith came to the crease and quickly shifted the momentum in Karnataka’s favor.
Sreejith shared a decisive partnership with KV Aneesh, who scored 82 runs from 66 balls in his List A debut. Sreejith and Aneesh added 94 runs between them, which set the basis for the chase.
Later, Sreejith further shared a match-winning partnership of 183 runs with leg-spinner all-rounder Pravin Dubey. The partnership was built on attacking cricket as both players took the Mumbai bowlers head-on confidently. Sreejith scored 107 runs off 69 balls during the partnership, while Dubey contributed a quick 65 runs off 50 balls.
Karnataka’s aggressive batting style was evident throughout the innings, as they maintained a high run rate and kept the pressure on Mumbai’s bowlers. With Sreejith leading the charge and key contributions from Aneesh and Dubey, Karnataka cruised toward their target, eventually surpassing it with ease.
Mumbai’s Struggling Bowlers in Vijay Hazare Trophy
Mumbai’s bowlers, despite some good individual performances, were unable to cope with the relentless attacking cricket from Karnataka. Vasuki Kaushik was one of the few standout bowlers for Mumbai, giving away just 45 runs in his ten overs, an impressive effort in an otherwise high-scoring match. However, Shardul Thakur’s expensive bowling, which saw him concede 72 runs in six overs, highlighted the struggles of Mumbai’s bowling attack.
But again, Karnataka chased with extreme aggression and toughness as their chase was in respect for a record-setting target against them and a historic win also. Sreejith’s brilliant 150* will be talked about with the rest of the inning of the tournament, considering with which he won Karnataka’s game and how his big hundred by Iyer never mattered.
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