Arpit Vasavada missed a century by four runs while Australia-bound Cheteshwar Pujara struck 86 as Saurashtra thrashed Maharashtra by 63 runs in a West Zone leg match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy here today.
Pujara and Vasavada stitched 110 runs for the second wicket as Saurashtra piled up 303 runs for five wickets after they were inserted by Maharashtra captain Rohit Motwani at the Sardar Patel Stadium B Ground at Motera here. Chasing the stiff target, Maharashtra could only score 240 for eight in their 50 overs to lose the inconsequential match.
Ankit Bawne struck an unbeaten 110 off 122 balls but his fine knock went in vain as none of his colleagues gave him support. Number nine batsman Anupam Sanklecha (38) was the second highest scorer for Maharashtra.
Both Saurashtra and Maharashtra finished their West Zone engagements and they failed to advance to the knock-out round. Saurashtra ended at fourth and Maharashtra last in the five-team Central Zone. Pujara took 89 balls to hit his 86 with the help of just two boundaries while Vasavada’s 87-ball knock had 12 fours. Sheldon Jackson contributed 53 while his opening partner retired hurt after scoring 10.
Brief scores:
Saurashtra 303 for 5 in 50 overs (Cheteshwar Pujara 86, Arpit Vasavada 96; Domnic Joseph 2 for 56) beat Maharashtra 240 for 8 in 50 overs (Ankit Bawne 110*; Siddharth Trivedi 3 for 30) by 63 runs.
Vijay Hazare Trophy 2014-15: Saurashtra beat Maharashtra by 63 runs
