Karnataka vs Saurashtra, Final at Delhi, Feb 27 2018 - Ball by Ball Commentary

4.46pm That's all from us today. Hope you enjoyed ESPNcricinfo's coverage of the 2017/18 Vijay Hazare Trophy. Karnataka are India's domestic 50-over champions. And we'll sign off on that note. Thanks for your company once again. Bye bye!

4.40pm We're ready with the presentation. First up, the Man of the Match: Mayank Agarwal. He says: "It's been crazy season, that's all I have to say. Very grateful to God and my team-mates. I want to thank them, and the selectors who backed me during the bad times. I am quite happy. Of all the people, I won't complain about the pitch (laughs). As the game progressed, the wicket started turning and got a bit slower too. Looking forward to the Deodhar Trophy but we're very happy to win this tournament. We'll take it as it comes."

Cheteshwar Pujara, the losing captain. He says: "The total was very chaseable. We lost too many wickets in the middle, that's why we lost today. Jadeja not bowling did hurt us, but he had a side strain and he can't bowl at this stage. His batting and fielding is still an advantage for the team. Wouldn't change the decision to bowl first, the loss goes down to losing too many middle-overs wickets. I'll be going to Yorkshire in the first week of June."

Karun Nair, the winning captain. He says: "Very thrilled to win the first trophy under my captaincy. Thanks to team-mates and the management. We fought as a team. We have played really well through the season, it's just that the Ranji's and T20s we slipped up in one-odd match, so we were really pumped to win this tournament. Mayank's efforts are pretty amazing - every time he went out to bat, we felt that he'd score many runs. Just want to wish him all the best. Getting youngers like Prasidh a chance was part of our plan. High time they got a chance, because we wanted to give them experience for the time of transition if seniors leave in the future."

Veerappa: "What a series it has been for Mayank. If this does not give him a India team call up then what does?"

4.35pm Pujara leads the Saurashtra men out for handshakes. Mayank Agarwal looks delighted. Karun Nair has led his troops remarkably well with a second-string bowling attack. Smiles all around in the Karnataka camp as the fielders make their way out. Kamlesh Makvana's four wickets did help Saurashtra's cause in the first innings, but Prasidh Krishna and K Gowtham shined bright in the second innings, sharing six wickets. Pujara's 94 was dogged, and at times, slow, but that Saurashtra got even close to the target was thanks to him. He had no support from the other batsman, and that's probably why Karnataka win today's final. Stick around for the presentation.

Ganesha K S: "Congratulations Karnataka, tough luck Saurashtra, 3rd title for Ktka, Vinay can be KKR captain, what you guys say.."

Kshitish : "I am not able to get even one comment posted and Maulik gets two. This is talent."

Maulik: "All those supporting Pujara, look at how Mayank has played or for that matter any dependable batsmen plays in an ODI. Agree to be an anchor but he has to make runs as well put the opposition on back-foot too. Here opposition pretty much knew that only one player is going to try and score and need their wickets. At times one has to catch hold of the game to win it and he is the captain of the side too. "

Niroop: "The only thing Karnataka lacked this tournament is a proper death bowler. No name comes automatically to mind to bowl these last overs." -- yep, the unavailability of Mithun and Vinay have hurt them a bit

Siddhant Singh: "wow..so people are actually blaming pujara when you have 3 batsman with binary scores...he has scored more than 50% of the runs...had he tried to hit earlier and got out it would have been doesn't know how to construct an innings.. people would never be satisfied no matter what"

Vinay: "Could India's current best Test batsman show up in a T20 beast mode for the last 7 overs? My money is still on Saurashtra as long as Pujara is at the crease. "

Jigar: "I guess strategy here was clear. Pujara to drop the anchor and play till the end and other batsman to try and accelerate. Pujara played is part to the perfection and still everyone find fault in his inning is quite surprising. "

VinodTirupati: "72 in 42 is certainly not ungettable. 15 runs from the 43rd over shows exactly that. Go Pujara!