Ahmedabad, Dec 24 (UNI) Karnataka pulled off one of the most remarkable run chases in List-A cricket history, chasing down a mammoth target of 413 against Jharkhand with 15 balls to spare in their Vijay Hazare Trophy opener at the Narendra Modi Stadium here.
The successful chase is now the second-highest in List-A cricket history, surpassed only by South Africa’s iconic 435-run chase against Australia in 2006.
Devdutt Padikkal anchored Karnataka’s historic effort with a sublime knock of 147 off 118 balls, striking 10 fours and seven sixes. Displaying composure under pressure, the left-hander held the innings together despite the required run rate remaining above eight an over for most of the chase.
Earlier, Jharkhand had appeared firmly in control after skipper Ishan Kishan blasted a sensational 33-ball century, the second-fastest hundred by an Indian in List-A cricket. His explosive innings powered Jharkhand past the 400-run mark, setting Karnataka a seemingly insurmountable target in the 50-over contest.
Karnataka, however, responded with fearless batting. Captain Mayank Agarwal provided early impetus with a fluent 54, while Abhinav Manohar kept the momentum alive in the middle overs with a brisk 56, ensuring the asking rate stayed within reach.
Debutant Dhruv Prabhakar, aged 20, applied the finishing touches with an unbeaten 40, showing maturity beyond his years. His calm approach, sharp running between the wickets and ability to pierce the gaps helped Karnataka cross the line comfortably with five wickets in hand.
The extraordinary chase has been etched into the record books, placing Karnataka alongside the greatest List-A run chases ever witnessed.
Karnataka script history in Vijay Hazare opener
