Vijay Hazare Trophy: Vishvaraj Jadeja ton steers Saurashtra into final

BENGALURU: Four overs is all Saurashtra openers Harvik Desai (64) and Vishvaraj Jadeja (165*, 127b, 18x4, 3x6) needed to get their eye in during the second Vijay Hazare Trophy semifinal here on Friday. The dismantling of the Punjab bowling attack began in the fifth over when Vishvaraj danced down the track to loft Gurnoor Brar over midwicket and followed it up with a crisp flick to the picket fence.From there on, the 292-run target set by Punjab was made to look like child’s play. Saurashtra overhauled it in just 39.3 overs, winning by nine wickets with 63 balls to spare. Five runs were shaved off the target as Punjab were penalised for running on the pitch.By the end of the seventh over, it was clear Saurashtra, who opted to bowl first, were eyeing an early finish to a contest under lights. Krish Bhagat bore the brunt of the assault, conceding 23 runs in the over. Vishvaraj went on to raise his bat for his third hundred of the season, reaching the landmark in 74 balls.Brief scores: Saurashtra 293/1 in 39.3 overs (Vishvaraj Jadeja 165*, Harvik Desai 64) beat Punjab 291 in 50 overs (Anmolpreet 100, Prabhsimran 87; Sakariya 4/60) by 9 wickets.