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[Saba Sports News] In a stunning upset, Tripura clinched their first-ever win against reigning champions Saurashtra in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match at KSCA Cricket Ground in Alur. Under the leadership of Wriddhiman Saha, Tripura, and Jaydev Unadkat-led Saurashtra, both holding one win from their first two matches, faced off. Saurashtra, the current Vijay Hazare Trophy champions, chose to field after winning the toss.
Tripura, who had never before defeated Saurashtra in any format, struggled initially but recovered thanks to partnerships led by Bikramkumar Das, Sudip Chatterjee, Ganesh Satish, and Manisankar Murasingh, posting a total of 258-8, with Unadkat taking five wickets.
Saurashtra’s response was shaky, crumbling early to 53-5 despite efforts from Cheteshwar Pujara and Arpit Vasavada. The game’s highlight was 18-year-old Joydeb Deb, playing only his second List A game. Surprisingly listed as a wicket-keeper batter in most databases, Deb’s bowling prowess emerged as he claimed the last five wickets in just seven overs, leading to Saurashtra’s collapse at 110 all out.
Deb’s remarkable 5-15 from 6.4 overs propelled Tripura to a decisive 148-run victory and second place on the Group A points table. This historic win signals a significant milestone for Tripura cricket, while Saurashtra faces a setback in their campaign.