Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26: Aman Rao double ton helps Hyderabad cruise to win against Bengal

Aman Rao converted his maiden List-A hundred into an unbeaten double ton to spur Hyderabad to a dominant 107-run win over Bengal in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025 Group B encounter at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old wrote himself into the history books (200 n.o., 154b, 12×4, 13×6) in just his third senior 50-over appearance, annihilating Mohammed Azharuddin’s record for the highest List-A score by a Hyderabad batter – 161 not out vs Goa in the 1994/95 season. Mohammed Siraj registered a four-wicket haul to help curtail Bengal’s chase of the 353-run target at 245.

After being forced to bat by Bengal, Hyderabad started briskly with Rahul Singh Gahlaut taking full toll of full balls on the stumps. The southpaw recovered from umpteen plays and misses outside off-stump as the pacers got some movement in the air early on. With his senior pro taking the bowling on, Aman took his time to get his feet in, contributing just 33 in the 100-run opening partnership, which came in the 15th over.

The drinks break brought about the first wicket. Rahul let out a frustrated slog-sweep against leg-spinner Rohit Kumar after being bogged down by consecutive dot balls, only to find deep-midwicket.

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Captain Tilak Varma endured a scratchy start, surviving a dropped chance by Mohammed Shami at long-on when on four. Aman and the skipper took their time against the two-pronged spin attack before the drinks break claimed another victim. Tilak perished a ball after the recess, finding long-on with his lofted attempt down the ground against Shahbaz Ahmed.

Then began the onslaught from Aman. He brought up his century off 108 balls, featuring just nine fours and three sixes, before unleashing hellfire. The opening batter punished any misgivings in length from the experienced Bengal pacers, plundering ten more sixes. While slot balls were happily lofted back over the bowler’s head, the 21-year-old also managed to connect his pull shots against off-pace short deliveries.

Despite Shami picking up three wickets to ensure wickets fell regularly at the other end, Aman continued to tee off. A six off the last ball of the innings over long-on fetched him his double ton and helped Hyderabad register 352 in its batting essay.

Bengal’s pursuit of the mammoth target got off to a grim start when Siraj ran through the top order with his opening burst. Despite the lack of movement in the afternoon, the Indian international used the short ball as a camouflaged weapon to outthink the batters. Veteran Anustup Majumdar (59, 72b, 4×4, 1×6) and Shahbaz Ahmed (108 n.o., 113b, 9×4, 4×6) ensured the team didn’t stumble to a tame surrender with a 97-run association. But the sedate run rate meant Hyderabad was never really under pressure of an improbable comeback.

Shahbaz persevered in his lone vigil after Majumdar fell while looking to up the ante, aggregating three figures for the fourth time in the 50-over format. The lower order bit the dust in their efforts to deliver a few lusty blows as Bengal slid to its second defeat of the tournament, plunging its hopes of making the quarterfinal in serious doubt with a game against table-topper Uttar Pradesh to negotiate.

Published on Jan 06, 2026