The Rajasthan cricket team pulled off a thrilling 19-run win over Tamil Nadu in a pre-quarterfinal Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 encounter at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on Thursday.

Rajasthan’s Abhijeet Tomar starred with the bat by scoring a century (111) and was well-supported by captain Mahipal Lomror (60) coupled with a collective effort from their bowling unit.

Put into bat first, the opening duo of Abhijeet Tomar and Sachin Yadav had a cautious start before the latter was dismissed in the 10th over with the score on 24/1.

Rajasthan skipper Mahipal Lomror then made his way to the crease and his arrival completely changed the momentum of the contest thanks to a quickfire fifty that came at more than a run-a-ball.

Lomror along with Abhijeet Tomar, who had started to grow in confidence and was beginning to show his full range of strokes, stitched together a 160-run stand before the Rajasthan captain was dismissed for a 49-ball 60 in the 32nd over.

His departure resulted in the entry of all-rounder Deepak Hooda, who didn’t last long and made his way back to the pavilion in the 34th over having added seven runs to the total.

Abhijeet Tomar, who was later adjudged the Player of the Match, was still going strong at the other end and brought up his century in 107 balls before being dismissed in the 36th over after a well-made 111 off 125 balls. His knock was laced with 12 fours and four sixes.

Wicket-keeper batter Kartik Sharma ensured that Tomar’s dismissal wouldn’t slow down Rajasthan as he made a 28-ball 35.

However, Sharma’s dismissal in the 41st over with the score on 242/5 resulted in a collapse as the next five wickets fell for a mere 25 runs as Rajasthan managed to post 267 in 47.3 overs.

In reply, Tamil Nadu made a steady start in their run chase with openers Tushar Raheja and Narayan Jagadeesan putting on a 50-run stand.

Two quick wickets by Khaleel Ahmed and Aniket Choudhary wrestled back the advantage in Rajasthan’s favour before Jagadeesan and Baba Indrajith came together to steady the ship and take the sting out of the contest for Tamil Nadu.

Jagadeesan was looking comfortable in the middle as he brought up his half-century and threatened to take the game away from Rajasthan.

Kukna Ajay Singh though had different plans as he claimed the all-important scalp of Jagadeesan in the 19th over after the right-handed batter had made 65 off 52 balls.

Baba Indrajith, who was well-set at the other end, was the next to fall six overs later thanks to Aman Shekhawat.

With two new batters in Vijay Shankar and Mohamed Ali now at the crease, Rajasthan seemed to be on top albeit momentarily as the Tamil Nadu duo went on to get their chase back on track with Ali donning the role of the aggressor.

It would eventually take a run out by Deepak Hooda to break the partnership as Mohamed Ali had to depart for a run-a-ball 34 in the 35th over.

New batter Sanjay Yadav would have a brief stay in the middle as Aniket Choudhary dismissed him a couple overs later to claim his second wicket of the day.

Tamil Nadu captain Sai Kishore was the next to depart courtesy Kukna Ajay Singh, who trapped him in front of the stumps.

However, the biggest roar from Rajasthan came when they got out dangerman Vijay Shankar with the first ball of the 46th over.

Shankar was dismissed for a well-made 49 with the score reading 235/8, leaving Tamil Nadu 33 runs short of the target with two tail enders at the crease.

Rajasthan made light work of the remaining two wickets with Aman Shekhawat involved in both of them.

He first ran out Sandeep Warrier and then dismissed Varun Chakravarthy at the start of the 48th over to help Rajasthan register a 19-run and guide them into the quarter-finals of Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 where they will face Vidarbha.

Rajasthan vs Tamil Nadu, Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25, brief scores: RAJ 267 in 47.3 overs (Abhijeet Tomar 111, Aman Shekhawat 3/60) beat TN 248 in 47.1 overs (Narayan Jagadeesan 65, Varun Chakravarthy 5/52) by 19 runs.