Maharashtra Vs Punjab Highlights, VHT 2024-25, 3rd QF: MAH Crush PUN By 70 Runs To Enter Semis

Maharashtra Squad: Om Bhosale, Siddhesh Veer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ankit Bawne(c), Rahul Tripathi, Azim Kazi, Nikhil Naik(w), Satyajeet Bachhav, Rajneesh Gurbani, Mukesh Choudhary, Pradeep Dadhe, Prashant Solanki, Divyang Hinganekar, RS Hangargekar, Hitesh Walunj, Dhanraj Shinde

Punjab Squad: Abhishek Sharma(c), Prabhsimran Singh, Anmolpreet Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Naman Dhir, Anmol Malhotra(w), Ramandeep Singh, Sanvir Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Ashwani Kumar, Raghu Sharma, Baltej Singh, Sohraab Dhaliwal, Mayank Markande, Harpreet Brar, Gurnoor Brar, Pukhraj Mann, Prerit Dutta, Jassinder Singh, Jaskaranvir Paul

The Maharashtra Vs Punjab, 3rd quarterfinal match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 will be streamed live on the JioCinema app and website and telecast on the Sports18 Khel.

Punjab skipper Abhishek Sharma has won the toss and opted to field first against Maharashtra at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara.

Maharashtra (Playing XI): Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Siddhesh Veer, Ankit Bawne, Rahul Tripathi, Azim Kazi, Nikhil Naik(w), Arshin Kulkarni, Satyajeet Bachhav, Rajneesh Gurbani, Mukesh Choudhary, Pradeep Dadhe

Punjab (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma(c), Prabhsimran Singh, Anmolpreet Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Naman Dhir, Anmol Malhotra(w), Ramandeep Singh, Sanvir Singh, Baltej Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Raghu Sharma

We have an early wicket here and no prizes for guessing who!! Arshdeep Singh and the new ball are turning into a bit of a love story as he sends back Maharashtra opener Ruturaj Gaikwad for just five. Punjab off to the perfect start.

Punjab have now bettered their good start with two early wickets as Maharashtra are in a bit of trouble. Arshin Kulkarni and skipper Ankit Bawne are out there in the middle and will be hopeful of a strong rebuild.

Arshin Kulkarni and Ankit Bawne have started to stitch a slow but crucial partnership for Maharashtra and will be hoping to keep building on it. After 13 overs, they have managed to score 47 for the loss of two.

Abhishek Sharma introduced himself into the attack in the 19th over. Ankit Bawne and Arshin Kulkarni have rebuilt the innings after two early wickets. Sanvir Singh is bowling from other end.

MAH - 68/2 (19)

Arshin Kulkarni completed his half-century with a strike rate of under 100. Ankit Bawne followed him and completed his fifty as well soon. The duo has added more than 100 runs for the third wicket and will try to shift gears soon.

MAH - 112/2 (26)

Maharashtra completed 150 runs in the 32nd over of the inning. Both batters, Arshin Kulkarni and Ankit Bawne have looked good and added crucial runs but they need to increase the run rate and shift gears.

MAH - 152/2 (33)

Rahul Tripathi and Arshin Kulkarni added some runs but soon Abhishek Sharma broke the partnership by dismissing Tripathi in the 41st over.

MAH - 193/4 (41)

Arshin Kulkarni completed his well-deserved century in the 41st over but soon lost his wicket while shifting the gears. Arshdeep Singh did the damage. Nikhil Naik and Satyajit Bachhav are taking the team to a respectable total.

MAH - 216/6 (45)

Satyajeet Bachhav (20 not out off 15 balls) and Nikhil Naik (52 not out off 29 balls) added 59 runs in the last five overs to take Maharashtra to 275 runs in their first innings in the quarterfinal match of the Vijay hazare Trophy 2024-25 against Punjab.

MAH - 275/6 (50)

Brief Score: MAH - 275/6 (50)

Arshin Kulkarni - 107 (137), Ankit Bawne - 60 (85) | Arshdeep Singh: (9-1-56-3)

Punjab started the chase with Prabhsimran Singh and Abhishek Sharma opening the batting. Rajnish Gurbani opened the attack for Maharashtra with Mukesh Choudhary from the other end.

PUN - 8/0 (2)

Mukesh Choudhary bowled Prabhsimran Singh in the fourth over of the chase to provide Maharashtra the much-needed breakthrough. His brother, Anmolpreet Singh replaced Prabhsimran at the crease.

PUN - 31/1 (5)

Mukesh Choudhary has destroyed the Punjab top order completely. Choudhary dismissed Abhishek Sharma first then got rid of Nehal Wadhera to put Punjab three wickets down. Anmolpreet Singh and Ramandeep Singh are trying to rebuild the innings.

PUN - 56/3 (11)

Ramandeep Singh is the newest member to be dismissed from Punjab. PC Dadhe bowled him in the 12th over to make Punjab four wickets down. Anmol Malhotra and Anmolpreet Singh are at the crease.

PUN - 58/4 (13)

Rajnish Gurbani joined the party with PC Dadha and Mukesh Choudhary when he dismissed Anmol Malhotra in the 23rd over. Anmolpreet Singh is the only proper batter available with around 200 more runs needed to win the match.

PUN - 88/5 (25)

Punjab's last hope to win this match, Anmolpreet Singh lost his wicket to the star of Maharashtra unite for today, Arshin Kulkarni. Kulkarni came to bowl in the 32nd over and bowled him to deny his half-century and give Punjab their seventh wicket-lose. Sanvir Singh and Arshdeep Singh are present at the crease.

PUN - 134/7 (35)

Sanvir Singh departs for 24 (28), caught by Nikhil Naik off Satyajeet Bachhav.

Punjab face an uphill task, needing 102 runs in 61 balls with just two wickets in hand. Arshdeep Singh holds the key at 22(21).

PUN: 174/8 (39.5 Overs)

Maharashtra secured a comfortable 70-run victory over Punjab in the third quarter-final.

Punjab were all out for 205 in 44.4 overs, chasing Maharashtra's total of 275/6.

Arshdeep Singh played a valiant knock of 49, but it was not enough to get his team across the line.

MAH: 275/6 (50)

PUN: 205 (44.4)

Maharashtra will now face the winner of Quarterfinal 2 match in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 semi-final encounter on January 16, Thursday at the Vadodra International Cricket stadium.