In a nail-biting encounter of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Kerala, despite a valiant century from captain Sanju Samson, fell short by 18 runs against Railways. Railways, batting first, posted a challenging total of 256 runs, driven by an unbeaten century from Sahab Yuvraj Singh. Kerala, in their chase, displayed remarkable fighting spirit, with Samson scoring a brilliant 128 runs, but their efforts fell just short as they could only manage 237/8.
Kerala’s chase began on a shaky note as they lost four early wickets for a mere 59 runs. However, Samson and Shreyas Gopal stepped up to the plate, forging a crucial 138-run partnership that stabilized the innings. Gopal played a valuable knock of 53 runs before being dismissed at a crucial juncture.
With Kerala needing 45 runs from the last two overs, the responsibility rested on Samson’s shoulders to carry the team home. Despite his late surge, scoring 25 runs in the final two overs, Kerala’s chase fell just short as Samson was dismissed on the fifth ball of the last over.
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Earlier, Railways, after electing to bat first, faced an early setback, losing two wickets for just 19 runs. However, Pratham Singh and Yuvraj Singh rescued the innings with a solid third-wicket partnership of 148 runs.
Sanju Samson scored century in VHT while playing at number 6 .pic.twitter.com/726CLdvLgB https://t.co/j2lcTe7xCs
— Naviyo (@whocaresnavi) December 5, 2023
Yuvraj Singh anchored the innings with an unbeaten 121 runs, while Pratham Singh contributed a well-made 61 runs. Upendra Yadav also chipped in with a valuable 31 runs, providing late support to Yuvraj Singh. Vaishakh Chandran emerged as the most successful bowler for Kerala, claiming two wickets for 33 runs in his 10 overs.
Despite the loss, Kerala managed to finish atop Group A with 20 points, courtesy of their superior net run rate over Mumbai and Odisha, who also had 20 points. Kerala’s victory in their previous match against Mumbai proved to be decisive in determining their top position.
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Kerala’s spirited chase, though falling short, demonstrated their fighting spirit and potential. Samson’s century and Gopal’s valuable contribution highlighted their batting prowess, while Chandran’s bowling performance showcased their ability to challenge tough opposition.
