FOR second match from four outings, Vidarbha captain Faiz Fazal’s important century went in vain as the inexperienced bowlers once again failed to defend a competitive total in the Vijay Hazare One-Day match at Indore on Friday.

 

It was an important match for Vidarbha for a win would have kept their knock-outs hopes alive. But they failed to defend 291 runs as Punjab romped home with four wickets in hand and 13 balls to spare.

 

Opener Prabhsimran Singh took Vidarbha bowlers to cleaners as he slammed a daddy hundred (167) to take his side to second spot in Group B with eight points in their kitty.

 

Vidarbha used as many as seven bowlers with very less success. They now languish at bottom of the table with just one win and a game in hand. Vidarbha were off to a fine start after being invited to bat first by Punjab.

 

The in-form left-handed captain Fazal showed his class hitting a 99-ball century. He, along with partner R Sanjay (25) gave Vidarbha a decent start adding 72 runs for the opening wicket. Fazal’s knock had nine balls to the fence and four huge sixes. After Sanjay’s departure, veteran Ganesh Satish and Fazal put Vidarbha in a position of strength as they added 103 runs for the second wicket. Satish too batted well for his 78 from 82 deliveries sending the cherry to the fence on seven occasions and once over it. Fazal’s fine innings was halted by Siddarth Kaul in the 31st over. Satish and Akshay Wadkar (63*) then added 62 runs for fourth wicket as Vidarbha inched closer to 291. Punjab took the advantage of the inexperienced Vidarbha bowling line-up as they hammered all the bowlers in their chase. Prabhsimran was in a punishing mood as he hit 13 boundaries and nine sixes in his 140-ball knock.

 

Though Vidarbha managed to take wickets, Prabhsimran held the fort from one end to see his side through. Saurabh Dubey, who took two wickets, finally stopped Prabhsimran in the 47th over, but it was too late for a comeback for Vidarbha.