Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26: Baroda pips Hyderabad in high-scoring encounter in Group B

Baroda’s top order had a field day at the Sanosara Cricket Ground ‘B’, with three batters scoring hundreds in the 37-run win over Hyderabad in Group B of Vijay Hazare Trophy on Wednesday. Openers Nitya Pandya (122, 110b, 12×4, 1×6) and Amit Pasi (127, 93b), 12×4, 7×6) laid the foundation for a rapid ton from Krunal Pandya (109 n.o., 63b, 18×4, 1×6), which helped the side post its highest List-A total of 417 for four in 50 overs.

Hyderabad remained in the hunt to haul down this total thanks to maiden List-A hundreds from Abhirath Reddy (130, 90b, 18×4, 2×6) and Pragnay Reddy (113, 98b, 11×4, 1×6), but it was eventually restricted to 380 all out in a nail-biting finish.

After being put in to bat, Amit showed his intentions early, repeatedly planting his foot across and lofting pacers over extra cover to collect a slew of boundaries. Nitya needed more time to adjust to the bounce on the surface on his List-A debut, and preferred giving Amit more strike in the first PowerPlay.

The expensive start with pace forced Hyderabad to turn to spin as early as the seventh over, but that too proved to be in vain as Amit continued to display his lofted cover drives. The 100-run stand between the two came within the first 12 overs. Amit reached his maiden List-A hundred in just 63 balls, propelling Baroda past 200 even before the half-way mark.

He eventually fell, nicking one down leg while attempting to pull a short ball from Tanay Thyagarajan. Skipper Krunal ensured the momentum remained intact, putting away anything short from the pacers and spinners alike. Nitya had a couple of nervous plays and misses outside in his nineties before he managed to get across to three figures.

Hyderabad managed to peg things back with three quick wickets. But it was a minor blip as Krunal’s effective pull shots and Bhanu Pania’s 27-ball 42 helped Baroda to a record score.

In reply, Hyderabad began on the front foot as openers Aman Rao and Tanmay Agarwal combined for a 50-run partnership within five overs. Pacer Atit Sheth broke the burgeoning stand when he forced Tanmay to nick to the keeper. Aman’s stay was cut short when his attempted reverse sweep against Mahesh Pithiya was gobbled up by backward point.

Abhirath and Pragnay combined for a solid 200-run partnership in just 145 balls. Pragnay started well against the short-ball attack from Raj Limbani before the pair settled down against the spinners, rotating strike with ease. Once set, out came the slog sweeps from the bat for Abhirath. Against pacers too, he used his on-side punch to find the gap between mid-wicket and long-on on more than one occasion. He brought up his first List-A hundred off 74 balls and carried on until he was pinned in front after missing a reverse sweep.

Pragnay brought up his three-digit landmark in 87 balls to carry the hopes of an improbable chase. Limbani forced the wicketkeeper-batter to hole out to deep mid-wicket after frustrating him with some well-directed slower balls. Debutant Karan Umatt recovered from an expensive early spell to deliver with a mix of off-pace balls and yorkers, at the death, to ensure Baroda’s mammoth total wasn’t eclipsed. 

Published on Dec 31, 2025