Which Match Is This About?
This article covers the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26 Elite Group B clash between the Assam cricket team and the Baroda cricket team, played on 24 December 2025 at the Niranjan Shah Stadium Ground C, Rajkot, India. In this close and entertaining List A match, Baroda chased down a tricky target to win by 5 wickets (with 13 balls to spare).
The match was part of a big domestic 50‑over tournament in India, and it brought together two competitive sides looking to build momentum in the group stage. Assam batted first and posted a solid total, but Baroda’s batting depth saw them home under pressure.
How Did the Toss Go and What Was the Decision?
Baroda won the toss and elected to field first. That decision paid off because they knew a decent target in a 50‑over game on a good batting wicket would give them something to chase — and they were right.
Chasing can feel easier if your team has most of its main batters in form and conditions favor batting later in the day. It’s often a calculated choice in List A cricket.
What Was the Final Score?
Here’s a quick summary of the match result:
| Team | Innings | Score | Overs | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assam | 1st | 282 all out | 48.4 overs | — |
| Baroda | 2nd | 283/5 | 47.5 overs | Won by 5 wickets |
Baroda reached the target of 283 with nearly two overs remaining.
This was a tight match with a big score on board, and it looked like Assam might defend it when they bowled well at times, but Baroda’s chase was steady and ultimately successful.
How Did Assam’s Batting Perform?
Assam posted 282 runs, which is a competitive total in a 50‑over domestic game. Here’s how their batting went:
Assam Batting Scorecard
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pradyun Saikia | 67 | 83 | 7 | 0 | 80.72 |
| Swarupam Purkayastha | 6 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Sumit Ghadigaonkar (c & wk) | 55 | 53 | 9 | 0 | 103.77 |
| Denish Das | 13 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 86.67 |
| Nibir Deka | 23 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 95.83 |
| Sibsankar Roy | 55 | 43 | 4 | 1 | 127.91 |
| AA Sengupta | 22 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 62.85 |
| A Malakar | 13 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 59.09 |
| Mukhtar Hussain | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Assam had a couple of solid contributions from Pradyun Saikia (67) and Sumit Ghadigaonkar (55), and Sibsankar Roy (55) also chipped in with a quick innings. All three hitters put together enough runs to challenge Baroda.
The total was built through a mix of patient batting and some brisk hitting in the middle overs. Assam kind of clicked in patches, and it looked like they might have enough runs to challenge Baroda.
How Did Baroda Chase It Down?
Chasing 283 in 50 overs isn’t easy, especially in domestic cricket against a well‑balanced bowling attack. But Baroda did it with a good mix of aggression and sensible cricket.
Baroda Batting Scorecard
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amit Pasi (wk) | 11 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 220.00 |
| Shashwat Rawat | 32 | 58 | 2 | 0 | 55.17 |
| Priyanshu Moliya | 72 | 87 | 9 | 0 | 82.76 |
| Krunal Pandya (c) | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Shivalik Sharma | 32 | 36 | 2 | 0 | 88.89 |
| Vishnu Solanki* | 88 | 62 | 10 | 2 | 141.94 |
| Bhanu Pania | 43 | 36 | 3 | 1 | 119.44 |
| Extras | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 283/5 | 47.5 overs | — | — | — |
A few things stand out:
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Vishnu Solanki was Player of the Match thanks to a powerful 88 not out off 62 balls that anchored the Baroda chase.
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Priyanshu Moliya contributed 72 runs, stabilizing the innings in the middle overs so Baroda didn’t lose too many early wickets.
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All the other batters played their part too — even though some scores were modest, they helped form partnerships and keep the chase on track.
Solanki’s innings was important because he paced it nicely — not too slow and never too risky — while keeping the momentum going. His strike rate was healthy and the big hits were timed well.
How Did the Bowling Perform?
Both teams had notable bowlers in the game:
Assam Bowling Highlights
Assam did well to restrict Baroda’s early scoring, with bowlers taking key wickets in the first half of the innings. They showed discipline in line and length.
Baroda Bowling Highlights
Baroda’s bowlers also did a good job containing Assam’s scoring, particularly in the middle overs. Two figures to note:
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wkts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atit Sheth | 8.4 | 56 | 4 |
| Raj Limbani | 10 | 66 | 3 |
Atit Sheth was especially effective, picking up 4 wickets for 56 runs, which restricted Assam from posting a much bigger total. Raj Limbani also picked up 3 wickets with solid bowling that made things harder for the Assam batters.
Who Was Player of the Match?
Vishnu Solanki of Baroda was awarded the Player of the Match for his unbeaten 88 off 62 balls in the second innings, which was crucial in guiding Baroda to a tight win. His innings was aggressive yet controlled — exactly what Baroda needed in a chase like this.
Solanki’s performance stood out, particularly because Baroda lost a few wickets early and needed a big partnership to stay in the hunt.
What Were the Turning Points?
Every close match has a few key turning points, and this game was no exception:
1. Sheth’s Bowling Spell
Assam’s Atit Sheth was dangerous with the ball and took key early wickets that prevented Baroda from steamrolling the chase.
2. Solanki’s Knock
When Baroda lost some early wickets, it still looked tricky. But Solanki’s innings calmed the chase and kept the required run rate achievable. Without that knock, Baroda might have struggled to finish.
3. Middle‑over Partnerships
The partnership between Solanki and Priyanshu Moliya was the backbone of the chase. It steadied the innings and helped Baroda make up ground steadily.
These moments are the kind that decide matches — solid bowling spells and game‑defining batting partnerships.
What Questions Do Fans Often Ask About This Match?
Who Scored the Most Runs in the Match?
Vishnu Solanki scored the highest with 88 not out in Baroda’s chase.
Who Took the Most Wickets?
Atit Sheth was the top bowler with 4 wickets for 56 runs for Baroda.
Which Ground Was the Match Played At?
The match was played at Niranjan Shah Stadium Ground C in Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
How Many Overs Did Baroda Take to Win?
Baroda reached the target in 47.5 overs, so they had a bit of room to spare.
How Did This Impact the Tournament?
This was a Vijay Hazare Trophy group stage game, and winning such a match by having a good net run rate and solid team performance is often crucial for qualification into the knockout rounds. Baroda’s win gave them 4 points, while Assam didn’t gain any from this fixture.
Every match in the group stage can alter standings, especially in such a competitive domestic List A tournament.
Final Thoughts
This Assam vs Baroda match was a classic example of a close domestic cricket encounter where both teams had their moments. Assam posted a large total through significant contributions from multiple batters, but Baroda’s chase was anchored by a standout knock from Solanki and backed up by good support from others.
Matches like these, in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, show how deep and competitive Indian domestic cricket can be, with players waiting for opportunities to prove themselves in pressure situations.