Vijay Hazare Trophy: Saurashtra clinch title against Maharashtra, Gaikwad shines

As
it
Happened:

After
winning
the
toss
at
the
Narendra
Modi
stadium,
Saurashtra
opted
to
bowl.

Ruturaj
Gaikwad
scored
the
third
consecutive
hundred
in
the
tournament
with
a
clinical
108
of
just
131
balls.
But
apart
from
Naushad
Shaikh
(31)
and
Azim
Kazi
(37),
rest
of
the
Maharashtra
batters
faltered
as
they
could
only
manage
248
runs
at
the
end
of
the
full
quota
of
50
overs.
The
Saurashtra
bowlers
did
a
decent
job
with
the
ball.
Chirag
Jani
was
the
pick
of
the
bowlers
with
43
for
3
in
his
ten
overs.
Gaikwad
was
also
dismissed
from
a
Jaidev
Unadkat
throw
as
the
player
fell
short
of
his
crease
when
the
score
was
199
in
the
42nd
over.
That
significantly
crippled
the
chances
of
an
onslaught
in
the
latter
overs.
There
were
3
run-outs
in
total
in
the
Maharashtra
inning.

In
reply,
Harvik
Desai
and
Sheldon
Jackson
put
up
a
125-runs
opening
partnership.
The
former
was
gone
after
completing
his
half-century,
but
veteran
Sheldon
Jackson
continued
his
merry
way
with
the
willow.
Despite
a
minor
stutter,
Saurashtra
went
home
high
and
dry.
Chirag
Jani
starred
with
the
bat
as
well,
scoring
30
runs
off
just
25
balls
to
see
his
team
through.
Jackson
ended
up
with
unbeaten
133
runs
of
just
136
balls.
Saurashtra
won
the
match
with
three
and
a
half
overs
to
spare
and
have
lifted
the
Vijay
Hazare
Trophy
for
the
first
time
since
2008.

Man
of
the
Match:
Sheldon
Jackson

Man
of
the
Series:
Ruturaj
Gaikwad
(660
runs
in
5
matches)

Reactions:

Jaidev
Unadkat
(Saurashtra
Captain):

“Unbelievable
feeling.
Yet
to
sink
in
that
we
are
the
champions.
When
you
get
one
(domestic)
title,
it
feels
good
but
to
do
it
a
second
time
shows
that
you
are
a
champion
side.
I’ve
been
looking
to
set
the
tone
but
it’s
not
about
one
guy
at
all.
We
need
people
to
step
up
at
different
times
and
that’s
what
we
have
got.
We
have
match-winners
and
credit
goes
to
all
of
them.
Special
mention
to
Sheldon
for
the
way
he
batted
today.”

Ruturaj
Gaikwad
(Maharashtra
Captain
and
Man
of
the
Series):

“I
think
it
was
important
for
me
to
get
back
well
from
injury.
Had
to
lead
from
the
front,
being
a
senior
player
and
being
an
experienced
player.
Had
to
deliver
on
the
big
stage.
I’m
just
trying
to
enjoy
the
game
and
stay
in
the
present.
Looking
to
give
good
starts
and
then
convert
them
into
big
hundreds.
Just
trying
to
become
as
consistent
as
possible.
The
kind
of
bowling
they
had,
and
the
lines/lengths
they
bowled,
it
was
challenging
and
I
was
enjoying
it.
Had
to
make
sure
that
I’m
staying
calm.”