Duleep Trophy: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi storm ends after stunning catch by Rajat Patidar
Duleep Trophy: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was threatening to take the game away from Central Zone when Rajat Patidar took a stunning catch to dismiss the teenager. Vaibhav hit 40 as East Zone were chasing 159 for a place in the final in Bengaluru.
It took a blinder from Central Zone captain Rajat Patidar to end Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's knock in East Zone's chase of 159 in the Duleep Trophy semifinal in Bengaluru on Tuesday, September 1. Rajat took one of the finest catches of the tournament, running from inside the 30-yard circle and completing a diving catch near the mid-wicket region.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was taking the attack to Vidarbha fast bowler Yash Thakur, switching gears after getting off to a cautious start. In the 14th over of the contest, Sooryavanshi launched into Yash, hitting him for a six and three boundaries in the first four deliveries.
However, on the final delivery of the 14th over, Sooryavanshi went for a wild slog that ballooned into the afternoon sky before Rajat completed the catch. The RCB captain remained composed while running backwards and held on to a sensational catch.
Sooryavanshi, once again, showed the calmer side of his batting, prioritising patience as he began East Zone's chase with senior opener Abhimanyu Easwaran. Sooryavanshi saw off a testing spell with the new ball from medium pacer Aryan Pandey and off-spinner Saransh Jain.
It was in the eighth over that Sooryavanshi hit the first six of the innings before Easwaran sent Saransh's floated delivery into the mid-wicket stands.
The two openers added 61 runs together before Sooryavanshi fell for 40 off 43 balls. Soon after, Easwaran also fell to left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey.
East Zone slipped from 61 for 0 to 93 for 3 as Harsh Dubey picked up another wicket, dismissing Virat Singh for 12.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been a crucial contributor to East Zone in their semifinal. After Central Zone posted 266 in the first innings, Vaibhav smashed an 81-ball 92, hitting seven sixes and as many boundaries. In the first innings too, Vaibhav and Easwaran gave the team a solid start, adding 161 runs for the opening stand.
However, East Zone lost their last nine wickets for just 105 runs, failing to take a considerable lead.
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