Haryana secured their spot in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final with a convincing 63-run victory over five-time champions Tamil Nadu in Rajkot on Wednesday, riding on Himanshu Rana’s outstanding century and a remarkable four-wicket haul from pacer Anshul Kamboj. Rana’s unbeaten 116 off 118 deliveries powered Haryana to an imposing total of 293 for seven in 50 overs. In response, Tamil Nadu, led by India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, fell short, getting dismissed for 230 in 47.1 overs.
Kamboj’s career-best bowling figures of 4/30 showcased his prowess as Tamil Nadu’s batters struggled to counter his bowling prowess. Haryana’s emphatic performance has now earned them a spot in their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy final.
Riding on Himanshu Rana’s Ton, Anshul Kamboj’s Four-For Haryana reach Vijay Hazare Trophy Final
Rana, who had a relatively subdued season in the tournament until now, played a pivotal role, combining caution with aggression. His partnership with opener Yuvraj Singh (65) added 132 runs to the total, setting the stage for Haryana’s commanding position. Despite an early setback with the dismissal of opener Ankit Kumar, Rana and Yuvraj steered Haryana’s innings in the right direction.
Rana’s aggressive approach, marked by 11 boundaries and two sixes, contributed to his impressive strike rate of nearly 100. The middle-order collapse following Yuvraj’s departure was mitigated by tailender Sumit Kumar’s cameo innings of 48 off 30 balls.
In their pursuit of Haryana’s total, Tamil Nadu faced early setbacks, losing veteran opener Baba Aparajith for just 7 runs. Kamboj’s effective bowling further dented Tamil Nadu’s prospects, with the 23-year-old pacer dismissing key players like Hari Nishaanth.
Despite a resilient effort from Baba Indrajith, who scored a patient 64, Kamboj’s dismissal of him in the 41st over essentially dashed Tamil Nadu’s hopes of reaching the final and contending for a sixth title.
Tamil Nadu’s last appearance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final was in the 2021-22 season, where they were defeated by Himachal Pradesh at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Haryana will now await the winners of the second semifinal between Rajasthan and Karnataka to determine their opponent in the final.
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