Mumbai clinched a nail-biting seven-run victory against Himachal Pradesh in a rain-affected Vijay Hazare Trophy encounter at the Jaipuria Vidyalaya Ground in Jaipur on Tuesday. The match, reduced to 33 overs per side, saw standout performances from stand-in skipper Shreyas Iyer and all-rounder Shivam Dube, who held their nerve in a high-pressure finish.
Iyer Leads Mumbai's Charge with Commanding Knock
With regular captain Shardul Thakur injured, Shreyas Iyer took charge and played a captain's innings to rescue his team from early trouble. Mumbai found themselves at 55 for 2 after the quick dismissals of openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan. Iyer then forged a crucial 82-run partnership with the young Musheer Khan off just 54 balls, stabilizing the innings and building momentum.
Musheer Khan was fluent in his strokeplay, scoring a rapid 73 from 51 deliveries to lay a solid foundation. Following his dismissal, Iyer combined forces with the explosive Suryakumar Yadav, adding a brisk 65 runs in only 39 balls. Iyer's commanding innings of 82 runs came from 53 balls and included 10 boundaries and three sixes before he was dismissed in the 26th over, falling 18 runs short of a century. Mumbai eventually posted a competitive total of 299 for 9 in their allotted 33 overs.
Himachal's Valiant Chase Falls Just Short
Himachal Pradesh began their chase of 300 aggressively but suffered a massive early setback, losing both their openers for ducks. This put immediate pressure on the middle order, but they responded with a spirited fightback. Pukhraj Mann led the counter-attack with a 41-ball 64, while wicketkeeper-batsman Ankush Bains contributed a valuable 53 from 39 deliveries.
The chase gained serious momentum through Mayank Dagar, who scored 64, and Amanpreet Singh's blistering cameo of 42 from just 21 balls. Amit Kumar also chipped in late, keeping the match on a knife's edge. The equation came down to 10 runs required from the final over with two wickets in hand.
Dube Holds Nerve in Final Over Drama
All-rounder Shivam Dube was entrusted with the ball for the decisive final over. Displaying remarkable composure, Dube removed the last two Himachal Pradesh batters to seal a dramatic victory for Mumbai. He finished with impressive figures of four wickets as Himachal Pradesh were bowled out for 292 in 32.4 overs, just 8 runs short of the target.
The win was crucial for Mumbai's campaign in the domestic 50-over tournament. The match, which experienced delays due to dense fog in the morning, provided full entertainment in its shortened duration, showcasing the competitive spirit of both sides.
Round-up of Other Vijay Hazare Trophy Matches
In other matches played across the country, Hyderabad registered their first win of the season by crushing Bengal by 107 runs. The victory was built on Aman Rao's double century and a four-wicket haul from pace bowler Mohammed Siraj, overshadowing a fighting century from Bengal's Shahbaz Ahmed.
Punjab comfortably chased down a target of 212 against Goa, thanks to an unbeaten 94 from Harnoor Singh and 68 from Naman Dhir, who shared a match-winning 131-run partnership. Karnataka dominated Rajasthan with centuries from their openers Mayank Agarwal and Devdutt Padikkal, while Gujarat dismantled Odisha by a massive margin of 233 runs.
Kerala impressed with a successful chase led by Vishnu Vinod's stunning 162, and Delhi sealed a comfortable win over Railways, powered by Priyansh Arya's rapid 80-run knock. The day's results have set an exciting tone for the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy season.
