Hardik Pandya slams maiden List-A century off 68-ball:Devdutt Padikkal hits fourth centuries in 5 matches; Sanju Samson’s ton helps Kerala win

The Vijay Hazare Trophy witnessed another exciting day of action as star players delivered match-winning performances across venues. From centuries by Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya and Devdutt Padikkal to dominant team victories, the tournament is heating up as the race for the quarter-finals intensifies. Kerala, Delhi and Punjab registered convincing wins, while Karnataka continued their strong run at the top of Group A. Several individual milestones were achieved, making the fifth round one of the most eventful days of the season. With just a few league matches remaining, teams are now under pressure to secure qualification spots, and every result is playing a crucial role in shaping the points table. Hardik Pandya, Padikkal among today’s centurions At Rajkot, Hardik Pandya scored a superb 133 runs for Baroda against Vidarbha, helping his team post 294 runs. However, Vidarbha chased down the target in 41.4 overs, losing just one wicket. In Ahmedabad, Devdutt Padikkal continued his dream form for Karnataka, scoring 108 runs against Tripura. This was his fourth century in five matches and the 13th List-A century of his career. Sanju Samson’s 101-run knock guides Kerala to victory against Jharkhand Kerala defeated Jharkhand by 8 wickets, riding on a brilliant century by Sanju Samson. Chasing a target of 312, Kerala made the contest one-sided with a massive opening partnership. Samson scored 101 runs off 95 balls, hitting 9 fours and 3 sixes. He was well supported by captain Rohan Kunnummal, who smashed 124 runs off just 78 balls. The duo added 212 runs for the first wicket, completely dominating the Jharkhand bowlers. Kerala comfortably chased down the target, registering an important win in Group A. Delhi and Punjab continue winning momentum Delhi recorded their fourth win of the season by defeating Services by 8 wickets in Elite Group D. Services were bowled out for 178, and Delhi chased the target in just 19.4 overs, losing only two wickets. Captain Rishabh Pant and Priyansh Arya played key roles with the bat. In Jaipur, Punjab crushed Sikkim by 10 wickets. Sikkim were bowled out for 75, thanks to a stunning bowling spell from Arshdeep Singh, who took 5 wickets for 34 runs. Punjab chased the target in just 6.2 overs, boosting their net run rate significantly. Other centurions of the day included: Abhimanyu Easwaran (102) for Bengal vs Assam, Axar Patel (130) for Gujarat vs Andhra, Tilak Varma (109) for Hyderabad vs Chandigarh Group standings after round five Group A: Karnataka remain on top; Madhya Pradesh lead with four wins, while Kerala and Jharkhand have three wins each. Group B: Uttar Pradesh is unbeaten with five wins; Bengal and Vidarbha fight for second place. Group C: Punjab and Mumbai occupy the top two spots. Group D: Delhi and Haryana are joint leaders with 16 points each.