Vijay Hazare Trophy: Jackson’s 106 steers Saurashtra to win

Put into bat, Saurashtra was off to a shaky start, losing its opening wicket with just 22 runs on the board.

Saurashtra left-arm spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja who picked four wickets against Chattisgarh in the Group D match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-day cricket tournament at Gymkhana Ground in Hyderabad.

 

Sheldon Jackson’s impressive century (106 retd. hurt, 107b, 14 x 4, 2 x 6) helped Saurashtra score a 32-run run win over Chattisgarh in the first round of the Group D matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-day cricket tournament at Gymkhana Ground here on Monday.

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It was Sheldon Jackson’s show all the way when Saurashtra batted first as his superbly-paced ton was laced with some exquisite boundaries. Despite losing opener Robin Uthappa cheaply in the seventh over of the innings, Jackson and captain Cheteshwar Pujara put on a 170-run stand for the second wicket during which the latter also revelled with some flowing drives on either side of the wicket.

Just when Jackson looked good to go the full length of the innings, he had to retire due to cramps which had him limping badly while completing a sharp single. Later, Pujara (60, 92b, 4 x 4) opened up to play some fine strokes before he was trapped lbw on the shuffle by slow bowler Sahban Khan.

In reply, Chattisgarh went down fighting despite useful contributions from the middle-order with Manoj Singh and Vishal Singh hitting breezy half-centuries. None of those who got off to a good start stayed put for a longer tenure. In the process, the side couldn't control the chase in the face of an accurate spell of left-arm spin bowling Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, who returned with a four-wicket haul.

That the Chattisgarh batsmen treated another left-armer, Ravindra Jadeja, with disdain - hitting him for three sixes in all - was a sure sign that they were fearless in their chase which only faltered for want of a long partnership in the end.

In another match, Akshath’s century (127, 116b, 10 x 4, 3 x 6) and K. Sumanth (56 not out, 26 b, 3 x 4, 4 x 6) and a five-wicket haul by pacer Mohammed Siraj (five for 45) were the highlight of Hyderabad’s emphatic, 128-run win over Services.

The scores: Hyderabad 329 for five in 50 overs (P. Akshath Reddy 127, K. Sumanth 56 not out, Akash Bhandari 47) bt Services 201 in 40.4 overs (G. Rahul Singh 64, Mohd. Siraj five for 45).

Saurashtra 286 for seven in 50 overs (Sheldon Jackson 106 retd hurt, Cheteshwar Pujara 60) bt Chattisgarh 254 for nine in 50 overs (Manoj Singh 58, Vishal Singh 51, Sahban Khan 40, Shaurya M. Sanandia three for 53, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja four for 41).

Vidarbha 300 in 49 overs (J. M. Sharma 79, S. R. Ramaswamy 77, A.V. Wankhade 51, Rahul Shukla four for 52) bt Jharkhand 293 for seven in 50 overs (Ishan Kishan 40, Saurabh Tiwary 65, Kumar Deobrat 60, Vikash 59 not out).

Tuesday’s matches: Vidarbha vs J & K (AOC Stadium); Hyderabad vs Jharkhand (Uppal Stadium); Chattisgarh vs Services (Gymkhana) - 9. 00 am.