In a stunning reversal of fortune, Mumbai suffered a heartbreaking one-run defeat against Punjab in their Elite Group C Vijay Hazare Trophy match on Thursday. Chasing a modest target of 217, Mumbai seemed destined for victory at 201 for 6 but lost their last four wickets for just 14 runs to be bowled out for 215.
A Chase That Slipped Away
Punjab, batting first, were dismissed for 216 in 45.1 overs. Mumbai's reply began briskly with Musheer Khan scoring a rapid 21. The innings then witnessed an extraordinary assault from Sarfaraz Khan, who played a blinder. Sarfaraz Khan hammered a Vijay Hazare Trophy record fifty off just 15 balls. His breathtaking knock of 62 runs came from only 20 deliveries and included a brutal 30-run over against bowler Abhishek Sharma.
With former India batter Shreyas Iyer providing solid support with a fluent 45 off 34 balls, Mumbai were cruising towards the target. However, the dismissal of Sarfaraz, leg-before to leg-spinner Mayank Markande, triggered a shift in momentum. Iyer's wicket fell soon after, sparking a dramatic collapse.
The Fatal Collapse and Punjab's Nerve
Established batters Suryakumar Yadav (15), Shivam Dube (12), and wicketkeeper Hardik Tamore (15) failed to guide the team over the line in the closing stages. Punjab's bowlers held their nerve superbly at the death. Gurnoor Brar (4/57) and Mayank Markande (four wickets) were instrumental in applying pressure, squeezing out the last four Mumbai wickets for a mere 14 runs to clinch a memorable victory.
Other Key Matches from the Day
In another dramatic fixture, Baroda faced quarterfinal heartbreak despite a massive 149-run win over Chandigarh. They missed advancing on net run rate. Baroda posted a huge 391 all out in 49.1 overs, powered by a brutal 31-ball 75 from Hardik Pandya, who hit nine sixes.
A remarkable all-round performance came from Jammu and Kashmir's Aquib Nabi. The seamer first took three wickets to restrict Hyderabad to 268 for 9. Later, with his team in deep trouble at 90 for 7 in the chase, Nabi, batting at No. 8, played a heroic unbeaten knock of 114 from just 82 balls to single-handedly steer Jammu and Kashmir to victory.
The quarterfinal line-up for the Vijay Hazare Trophy is now set. The teams to progress are: Delhi, Saurashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Vidarbha, Punjab, and Mumbai.
