Master of Madhya Pradesh Rajat Patidar he put up a stunning show with an unbeaten 132, leading his team to a remarkable victory over Bengal in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. The match, played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, saw the Patidar rise to the occasion just when his team needed him the most.
Chasing Bengal’s competitive total of 269/7, Madhya Pradesh found themselves in deep trouble at 2/2. The first blows could have derailed their chase, but the Patidar had other plans. Walking under enormous pressure, he showed his experience and composure.
The Patidar put together a crucial 185-run partnership with Shubham Sharma, who narrowly missed out on a century, falling to 99. The duo’s stand laid a strong foundation for the MP’s chase. Patidar then added another valuable 79-run stand with Subhransu Senapati, securing the team’s victory.
Patidar’s Fourth List A Century
The Patidar’s knock of 132* came from 137 balls and included eight fours and a six. This was his fourth century in List A cricket, taking his total tally to 2,211 runs in the format. His ability to anchor the innings and step up when required proved vital to MP’s success.
Patidar has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket. He started his Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign with a solid knock of 55 runs against Bihar. However, his form dipped in the next few matches, with scores of 2 and 13 against Tripura and Baroda. An unbeaten 132* against Bengal marked a timely return to form.
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In the ongoing campaign, Patidar has amassed 225 runs in six innings at an average of 45. His leadership and batting ability have been instrumental in Madhya Pradesh’s progress.
Impressive performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
Patidar also had a stunning outing in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT). He helped MP reach the final with consistent performances throughout the tournament.
Notably, the Patidar scored an unbeaten 81 off just 40 balls in the SMAT final against Mumbai. His knock, with six fours and six sixes, came at a strike rate of 202.50. Although MP trailed in the final, Patidar’s performance stood out.
In the SMAT season, he scored 428 runs in 10 matches at an average of 61.14. He registered five half-centuries and smashed 32 fours and 27 sixes.
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