Vidarbha delivered a commanding performance to secure a vital eight-wicket victory over Chandigarh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Wednesday. The comprehensive win, achieved at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, propelled Vidarbha to second place in Group B, significantly enhancing their prospects in the prestigious domestic one-day tournament.
Early Carnage Decimates Chandigarh Batting
Choosing to bowl first after winning the toss, Vidarbha's new-ball attack ripped through the Chandigarh top order with devastating efficiency. Darshan Nalkande set the tone by dismissing opener Manan Vohra off the very first ball of the match. The pressure intensified immediately as Nachiket Bhute struck twice in his opening over, sending Arjun Azad and Tushar Joshi back to the pavilion for golden ducks. In a stunning collapse, Chandigarh found themselves reeling at 4 for 3 after just seven deliveries.
Nikhil Thakur (17) and Arslan Khan (27) attempted to rebuild with a 39-run partnership, but the respite was brief. The middle order failed to mount any significant resistance, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Nalkande returned to dismantle the tail, finishing with excellent figures of 4 for 33 in 6.1 overs. Bhute (2/18) and Dipesh Parwani (2 wickets) provided crucial support as Chandigarh were bundled out for a paltry 113 runs in just 29.1 overs.
Taide and Shorey Guide Comfortable Chase
The chase encountered a minor early setback when Vidarbha's in-form batsman, Aman Mokhade, was dismissed cheaply. However, any hopes Chandigarh harbored of making a contest were swiftly extinguished by a composed and authoritative partnership. Atharva Taide, remaining unbeaten on 43 from 68 balls, and Dhruv Shorey, who scored a brisk 43 off 43 deliveries, joined forces to add 66 runs for the second wicket.
Their assured batting display ensured there were no further alarms. Vidarbha comfortably reached the target of 114 in 22.3 overs, finishing at 114 for 2 to seal the win with a massive 167 balls to spare. This dominant display not only earned them the points but also gave their net run-rate a substantial boost, a critical factor in the tight group standings.
Road Ahead and Implications
This clinical victory underscores Vidarbha's strong campaign in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The bowlers, led by Nalkande, executed their plans perfectly, while the batsmen completed the job with professionalism. The team now looks ahead to a sterner test against Baroda on Saturday, a match that will be pivotal for their knockout stage ambitions.
Brief Scores: Chandigarh 113 all out in 29.1 overs (Sanyam Saini 36; Darshan Nalkande 4-33) lost to Vidarbha 114/2 in 22.3 overs (Atharva Taide 43*, Dhruv Shorey 43) by eight wickets.
