• Source:JND
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India batter Abhishek Sharma's quarter-final outing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 against Maharashtra on Saturday, January 11, was cut short despite a promising start.

At the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, Abhishek began briskly, striking four boundaries, but his innings was ultimately restricted to 19 runs off 16 deliveries as he was dismissed, failing to convert his aggressive start into a substantial score.

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Abhishek, who had entered the quarter-final match on the heels of five consecutive half-centuries, fell victim to Mukesh Choudhary's prowess, as Punjab stumbled to 50/3 in 9.4 overs while chasing a target of 276.

The left-handed batter's dismissal marked a rare blip on his otherwise impressive record in the tournament.

Punjab captain Abhishek has been in phenomenal form throughout the tournament, amassing 467 runs from just eight innings at a remarkable average of 58.37. His explosive batting has been a highlight, with a strike rate of 130.44 that has left opponents reeling.

Abhishek's impressive tally includes one century and three half-centuries, with his highest score of 170 against Saurashtra being a particularly memorable innings. That breathtaking knock came off just 96 deliveries, with Sharma smashing 22 fours and eight sixes in a dazzling display of batting prowess.

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Maharashtra got off to a shaky start after being put into bat, losing their captain Ruturaj Gaikwad for just 5 runs and Siddhesh Veer for a duck, both falling prey to Arshdeep Singh's early onslaught.

However, the team's fortunes took a dramatic turn courtesy of a monumental 145-run partnership between Arshin Kulkarni and Ankit Bawne. This crucial stand not only steadied Maharashtra's innings but also provided the platform for a competitive total.

Ultimately, Maharashtra posted a respectable score of 275/6 in their allotted 50 overs.