Saurashtra Vs Punjab Highlights, Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 Semi-Final: Vishvaraj Jadeja’s Ton Propels SAU Into Final

Greetings and welcome everyone. The second semi-final of Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite 2025-26 is nearly upon us. Sit back and watch this space for the latest updates.

Saurashtra have won the toss and opted to field first against Punjab. Playing XIs coming up soon.

Punjab: Prabhsimran Singh (wk/c), Harnoor Singh, Anmolpreet Singh, Naman Dhir, Nehal Wadhera, Ramandeep Singh, Sanvir Singh, Krish Bhagat, Sukhdeep Bajwa, Mayank Markande, Gurnoor Brar

Saurashtra: Harvik Desai (wk/c), Vishvaraj Jadeja, Prerak Mankad, Sammar Gajjar, Chirag Jani, Ruchit Ahir, Parswaraj Rana, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, Ankur Panwar, Jaydev Unadkat, Chetan Sakariya

Veteran Saurashtra seamer and India international Jaydev Unadkat takes the new ball, and starts off with a testing delivery in the channel outside off stump for Punjab opener Harnoor Singh. Skipper Prabhsimran Singh is at the crease alongside Harnoor. A tidy first over from Unadkat, with just one run off it.

Jaydev Unadkat and Chetan Sakariya have kept things tight initially. The first five overs yield just 10 runs, and Prabhsimran Singh breaks the shackles with two boundaries in the sixth over. Punjab have enough firepower in their batting arsenal to elevate run-scoring later, however.

Prabhsimran, Harnoor patiently build a 60-run stand in 12 overs before the latter is run out by Chirag Jani. That brings Anmolpreet Singh into the middle, with Punjab going steadily at around five an over.

Punjab are not running away with the game, but are certainly building a strong foundation for a possible late flourish. Prabhsimran (45 not out) is nearing his fifty while Anmolpreet Singh (22 not out) is giving him able company.

Prabhsimran (73 not out) on the charge! As expected, the Punjab skipper is accelerating now and with Anmolpreet (36 not out) also playing busy cricket, Saurashtra have a lot to worry about. A 300-plus total is on the cards, and chasing that down in a semi-final would not be easy.

Chirag Jani with the breakthrough for Saurashtra, and it's the big fish Prabhsimran. The Punjab skipper departs for a fantastic 89-ball 87, putting his team in a good position to try and bat Saurashtra out of the match. Naman Dhir joins Anmolpreet, who has gone past the 50-run mark, in the middle.

Ankur Panwar sees the back of Naman Dhir and Nehal Wadhera off consecutive deliveries in the 36th over to peg Punjab back. But Anmolpreet continues to bat on undeterred, now joined by Ramandeep Singh. Saurashtra have ensured that Punjab are unable to force the pace before the 40th over begins. Let's see how the death overs go.

Ramandeep (13 not out off 19) is taking time to get going, which means Anmolpreet (88 not out off 98) is having to go for the big shots, with a hundred there for the taking. Punjab need one of these to kick on, if they are to go past the 300-run mark.

Anmolpreet gets to his hundred but falls soon after, and that leads to a lower-order collapse as Punjab finish with 291 all out in 50 overs. Ramandeep (42 off 38) is the only batter in the bottom six to get to double digits, which is why what looked like a total poised to exceed 300 with ease, stands at 291. Nevertheless, Saurashtra need a good batting display to chase this down. Join us for the second innings soon.

Gurnoor Brar takes the new ball for Punjab, with captain Harvik Desai and Vishvaraj Jadeja opening the batting for Saurashtra. The innings starts at 5 for no loss as Punjab were handed a five-run penalty for running on the pitch, late in their innings. A tidy first over from Gurnoor, just three runs off it otherwise.

Vishvaraj Jadeja (39 not out off 26) and Harvik Desai (26 not out off 22) are off to a splendid start in Saurashtra's pursuit of the 292-run target. The run rate has gotten a fillip after the duo makes merry in Krish Bhagat's first over, which goes for 23 runs. Punjab on the backfoot.

The start keeps getting better and better for Saurashtra. The unbroken opening stand is now worth 123, with Vishvaraj Jadeja batting on 69 and Harvik Desai on 48. It's a masterclass on how to chase down a big total in a high-stakes game like this. The required run rate is down to 5 and with all 10 wickets intact, this now is Saurashtra's game to lose.

No respite for Punjab as the onslaught from Vishvaraj Jadeja. He adds the icing on the cake by getting to his hundred off just 74 balls, giving Saurashtra the soundest of foundations possible. His opening partner Harvik Desai eventually departs for 64 off 63, but they have set their team well on its way to victory.

Prerak Mankad pulls off a classy boundary off Ramandeep Singh at 28.3, but can’t get anything off the next delivery as the bowler keeps him quiet.

Prerak Mankad remains tight against Naman Dhir, unable to score off consecutive deliveries at 33.5 and 33.6, as Punjab struggle to make a breakthrough.

Saurashtra stormed into the Vijay Hazare Trophy final with a dominant nine-wicket win over Punjab. Chasing 292, they reached 293/1 in just 39.3 overs, powered by a brilliant Vishvaraj Jadeja, who was named Player of the Match. The final against Vidarbha will be played on Sunday at the same venue.

That’s a wrap for now. We’ll be back with another live blog soon, until then, bye-bye.