Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021: Tamil Nadu set up final vs Himachal after thrilling last-ball win over Saurashtra

Five-time champion Tamil Nadu will face Himachal Pradesh in the final on Sunday 26 December. They assembled a hundred Baba Aparajith to overcome Saurashtra on Friday in Jaipur.

Tamil Nadu got his nerves under control and reached the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021 after defeating Saurashtra in a last-ball thriller at KL Saini Stadium in Jaipur on Friday. Chasing 311, the versatile Sai Kishore of Tamil Nadu hit a final ball limit of the 50th goal over pitched by Chirag Jani.

Tamil Nadu, who reached the final of the 50-over national competition for the 7th time, will face Himachal Pradesh, who defeated Services, earlier in the day in the first semi-final at Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

Tamil Nadu wrote of a hundred Baba Aparajith when the opener stabilized the entries after N Jagadeesan (0) and captain Vijay Shankar (4) crashed at the start of his 311-race chase.

Left-handed Chetan Sakariya, who made his debut in India earlier this year, took the two wickets to shake Tamil Nadu earlier.

BABA BROTHERS STITCH KEY HOLDER

However, brothers Baba Aparajitth and Indrajith added 97 runs to the third wicket before it fell shortly after reaching fifty. Aparajith then added 48 runs with senior batsman Dinesh Karthik, who hit a 26-31 ball to help change the momentum of the chase.

Aparajith and Washington Sundar (70 of 61 balls) then helped to establish a solid platform for the mid-bass order to explode in the closing overs, adding 76 runs. Aparajith hit 3 sixes and 12 limits on his 122-on 124-ball hit, but he wasn’t able to take the team past the finish line.

Washington Sundar combined with Shahrukh Khan, who hit 17 out of just 11 balls, but both hitters were reduced by Chetan Sakariya in the 47th and 49th over.

It all came down to Sai Kishore, who helped Tamil Nadu successfully secure 7 races in the final.

Earlier in the day, Vijay Shankar caught 4 wickets with the ball, but Saurashtra mounted an impressive 125-ball 134 from goalkeeper Sheldon Jackson to post 310 in 50 overs.

RISHI DHAWAN SHINES FOR HP

In the first semi-final, Himachal Pradesh had a brilliant overall effort from Rishi Dhawan with the captain hitting 84 on 77 balls to help them post 281/6 on 50 overs. He won 4/27 with the ball, as Services were grouped at 204 out of just 46.1 overs.