Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26: Saurashtra storm into final thanks to Vishvaraj Jadeja's magnificent 165*

The second semi-final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 witnessed a battle between Saurashtra and Punjab at the BCCI CoE Ground 1 on Friday, January 16. Saurashtra won the toss and elected to bowl first, probably taking a cue from what transpired last evening.

The Punjab openers Harnoor Singh and Prabhsimran Singh started cautiously. The latter received a life early on when Chirag Jani dropped the Punjab captain at fine leg. Importantly, Prabhsimran was yet to get off the mark.

The openers started to look for scoring opportunities after the fifth over and produced 45 runs in the next five, taking their team to 55/0 after 10 overs. But, Harnoor fell victim to a run out from Jani who ended the Punjab batter's innings for 33(43).

Anmolpreet Singh joined his captain and the duo scored at a steady rate. The partnership prospered as both the batters crossed their 50-run marks. It was Prabhsimran's 11 List A fifty and the captain continued in the same vein later.

Saurashtra were desperate for a breakthrough and Jani provided that in the form of Prabhsimran who was unlucky to miss his hundred, getting out for 87(89). The batters to come next could not do much except for Ramandeep Singh. In the meantime, Anmolpreet (100 off 105) was going well and completed his seventh List A century. But, the 27-year-old failed to score any run subsequently, becoming Chetan Sakariya's first victim.

Ramandeep (42 off 38) provided a late flourish with chaos around him. Punjab finished at 291 all out in their full quota of overs. For Saurashtra, Sakariya (4/60) was the standout bowler despite being a bit expensive.

The Saurashtra openers - Vishvaraj Jadeja and captain Harvik Desai - began the team's response watchfully. But, it did not take the pair much time to put the bowlers on the back foot. From 15/0 after the fourth over to 92/0 after the tenth, the openers scored 77 runs in the space of six overs. Batting became a lot easier under lights and the bowlers struggled to contain the batters.

Both the openers completed their fifties and continued to play with freedom. The game was slipping away from Punjab with each over and the team from the north needed a wicket badly. Gurnoor came back into the attack in search of it and succeeded in dismissing Desai for 64(63). The partnership lasted 138 balls for 167 runs. Incidentally, Saurashtra now needed 119 runs from 27 overs, a relatively comfortable task.

New man Prerak Mankad joined Jadeja and the pair kept the momentum going. The latter, who is in fine form, struck his second List A century and also the second of the tournament. The right-hander looked in no mood to relax or relent and carried on with the same flow. On the other hand, Mankad also looked positive and kept the scoreboard ticking along.

Punjab were just not getting any wickets and the second-wicket pair saw their team home with utmost ease. The team from the west won the match by nine wickets with 63 balls remaining. Jadeja remained unbeaten on 165*(127), an innings which included 18 fours and three sixes while Mankad too finished at 52*(49) completing his 10th List A half century.

Saurashtra will now meet Vidarbha in the final on Sunday, January 18.