From 3 losses to 2 wins: Chhattisgarh bounces back in Vijay Hazare Trophy

Raipur: Chhattisgarh pulled off a nerve-jangling 3-wicket win over Himachal Pradesh in a high-scoring Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite match at the Anantam Ground in Jaipur on Saturday, registering their 2nd successive victory after suffering 3 straight defeats and reviving their campaign in dramatic fashion. Chasing a stiff target of 321, Chhattisgarh kept their composure in a tense finish to reach 321 for 7 in 49.4 overs, sealing the contest with 2 balls to spare and sparking celebrations in the dugout after a nail-biting climax.The chase was built on a solid foundation laid by Ayush Pandey (78 off 87) and A G Tiwary (67 off 74), who stitched together a crucial 139-run opening stand to blunt Himachal Pradesh's early bowling challenge. While wickets at regular intervals threatened to derail the pursuit, skipper Amandeep Khare's blistering 72 off just 52 balls swung momentum decisively in Chhattisgarh's favour during the middle overs.With pressure mounting in the final stretch, Ajay Mandal (35 off 34) played a calm hand before Vasudev Bareth's unbeaten 21 off 10 balls provided the late flourish that took Chhattisgarh past the line in a tense finish.Earlier, Himachal Pradesh posted a competitive 320 for 8, riding on a magnificent century by Pukhraj Mann (134 off 121 balls) and a gritty 95 by Innesh Mahajan. The duo added a match-defining 178-run partnership that put Chhattisgarh under sustained pressure. However, disciplined spells from Ravi Kiran (3/65) and Dev Aditya Singh (2/60) in the latter half ensured the total stayed within reach.The victory was particularly significant for Chhattisgarh, who entered the contest low on confidence after 3 consecutive losses. Back-to-back wins now signal a timely turnaround, underlining the side's resilience and ability to hold their nerve under pressure.