Skipper Deepak Hooda played the perfect captain's knock to lead Rajasthan to a six-wicket win over Mayank Agarwal's Karnataka in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023 semi-final at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium C, Rajkot on December 14. Hooda scored 180 runs in the run chase of 279 after both openers bagged ducks and Rajasthan were reduced to 23/3 in the first powerplay overs. Rajasthan reached the final of Vijay Hazare after a long wait of 17 years.
Earlier, Karnataka skipper Agarwal won the toss and opted to bat first. Aniket Choudhary's purple patch continued and he dismissed Agarwal in the sixth over. He scored 13 runs from 22 balls. Samarth R struggled to rotate the strike and became Khaleel Ahmed's first victim of the day. Nikin Jose and wicketkeeper-batter Krishnan Shrijith tried to stabilise the innings but the run rate did not pick up. Left-arm spinner Kukna Ajay Singh broke the partnership with Jose's wicket. He scored 21 runs from 39 balls. A few overs later, Rahul Chahar got into the act with the wicket of Shrijith. He scored 37 runs from 45 balls featuring five boundaries.
Manish Pandey played second fiddle to Abhinav Manohar in the fifth-wicket partnership. But Pandey hit only one six in his 48-ball 28 while Manohar did the bulk of the scoring. Manohar took on Khaleel and hit him for two sixes. He reached his half-century from 44 balls. But Ajay Singh dismissed Pandey as Karnataka lost half their side for 176 in the 38th over. Manoj Bhandage came out all guns blazing hitting a six off the second ball he faced. In the 44th over, Manohar's catch was dropped by Hooda.
In the slog overs, Bhandage took the aerial route more often and cleared the boundary. He reached his half-century from just 31 balls in the 47th over. He was dismissed in the penultimate over by Arafat Khan. His 39-ball 63 was laced with three fours and five sixes. But Arafat ended up conceding one boundary each off Krishnappa Gowtham and Manohar's bat. Choudhary bowled a fantastic final over. On the penultimate delivery, Gowtham was run out whereas Manohar fell on the last delivery. Only two runs were scored in the final over. Manohar scored 91 runs from 80 balls including 10 fours and three sixes helping Karnataka post 282/8 on the board.
Rajasthan's run chase got off to a horrible start. Vasuki Koushik got the better off Abhijeet Tomar for a two-ball duck. Vijaykumar Vyshak was spot on in his first over too with the wicket of Ram Mohan Chouhan for a two-ball duck. At 1/2, Hooda and Mahipal Lomror had to walk out early in the innings. After smashing bowlers around the park, Bhandage contributed with the ball. Agarwal introduced him in the sixth over and he provided with the wicket of Lomror. Rajasthan were reduced to 23/3.
Karan Lamba joined Hooda in the middle. Both batters were cautious as the need of the hour was patience and not mindless swinging. They played themselves in and then looked for boundaries. In the 22nd over, Hooda smashed Jagadeesha Suchith for a six to reach his half-century from 53 balls. At the halfway stage, Rajasthan were 126/3. Lamba had the best seat in the house as Hooda accelerated. He did not spare the spinners in the middle overs. In the 30th over, he hit Bhandage for a boundary off the fifth ball to reach his century from 85 balls. In the next over, Lamba reached his half-century. He took 77 balls to reach the milestone.
Hooda continued to attack as he did not want to take the game to the end. In the 38th over, he reached his 150 from 108 balls. The onslaught continued. Karnataka bowlers could not stage a comeback. The wicket of Hooda came too late Gowtham managed to get the better of him in the 44th over. Hooda scored 180 runs from 128 balls featuring 19 fours and five sixes. Lamba had the opportunity to finish off the run chase and he did it with a boundary in the same over. He remained unbeaten for 73 off 112 balls as Rajasthan chased down the target with 38 balls to spare.
Rajasthan will now face Ashok Menaria-led Haryana in the final of the tournament on December 16.
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