Saurashtra ride Jackson ton to win Vijay Hazare
KOLKATA: Sheldon Jackson made his experience count with a patient and unbeaten 133 that helped Saurashtra beat Maharashtra by five wickets and win their second Vijay Hazare Trophy title in Ahmedabad on Friday. Also chipping in was Chirag Jani who first picked up a hattrick and then carved a 25-ball 30 to stay unbeaten on the other end.
“Winning one time is amazing but winning it second time proves that we are a champion side,” said Saurashtra captain Jaydev Unadkat who bowled a superb opening spell of 6-1-5-0. “Everyone has to step up at the right time, it is a team game. We have guys who have come into any situation and have won the game for us,” he said.
Jackson, a domestic circuit veteran, came into this final on the back of scoring 8 and 0 in the quarter-final and semi-final but he upped his game at the right time to ensure there were no hiccups in the chase. “I am grateful that I came back in form at the right time. Grateful to my teammates, the team management and the association for backing me. Experience counts but if you are not scoring runs, what is the point of experience,” he said.
Player of the Series Ruturaj Gaikwad contin
ued his sparkling form,
scoring his third consecutive hundred (108 off 131 balls) but Maharashtra fell well short of the par score on the day it mattered most, ending with 248/9 in 50 overs. The morning conditions were helpful towards bowlers but Maharashtra were on track for at least 275 as long as Gaikwad was around. But once he was run out in the 42nd over, Maharashtra lost the plot in the face of disciplined bowling from Saurashtra.
Jani’s hat-trick hastened the slide before Jackson kept a calm head and navigated his side through the initial overs, adding 125 for the first wicket with Harvik Desai who was dismissed just after reaching his fifty.
Jay Gohil and Samarath Vyas fell quickly but Jackson anchored the chase superbly. Once Jani came out, Saurashtra cantered towards the target and ultimately won with 21 balls to spare.
Brief scores: Maharashtra 248/9 in 50 overs (R Gaikwad 108; C Jani 3/43). Saurashtra 249/5 in 46.3 overs (S Jackson 133 not out).