Jammu and Kashmir on the Cusp of Historic Ranji Trophy Final
Jammu and Kashmir’s Auqib Nabi delivered an exceptional performance that may define their season, achieving a remarkable nine-wicket match haul and scoring a fierce 42 runs from No. 9. This effort has put the team in a strong position as they aim for their first-ever Ranji Trophy final.
On Day Three of the semifinal, Bengal faced a major setback, getting bowled out for just 99 runs in their second innings. The innings collapsed in just 25.1 overs, marking a crucial turning point in the match. Mohammed Shami stood out for Bengal, recording stunning figures of 8 wickets for 90 runs over 22.1 overs.
Set a target of 126, Jammu and Kashmir ended the day at 43 for 2, needing 83 more runs with two full days left to play. They lost Shubham Khajuria and Yawer Hasan in quick succession, both to Akash Deep, but Shubham Pundir remained steady, ending the day with an unbeaten 23 runs. Vanshaj Sharma, who was promoted to No. 4 after his strong showing in the quarterfinal, contributed nine runs to help the team stay in the chase.
Resuming their innings at 198 for 5, Jammu and Kashmir was shaken early on by Shami’s relentless bowling. Operating at speeds around 130 kph, he showcased great skill and discipline, taking two crucial wickets and achieving his third five-wicket haul of the season.
Just when Bengal seemed poised to take control, Nabi turned the tide with a spirited innings of 42 runs off just 54 balls, including five boundaries and a six. His partnership with Yudhvir Singh, which added 64 runs for the ninth wicket, brought the deficit down to just 30 runs, keeping Jammu and Kashmir firmly in the contest.
Although Shami eventually wrapped up Jammu and Kashmir’s innings at 302, the late fightback had already shifted the balance of the game.
In Bengal’s second innings, Nabi struck right away, dismissing Sudip Chatterjee with his first ball. Sunil Kumar soon took out first-innings centurion Sudip Kumar Gharami for a duck. With their top order failing under pressure, captain Abhimanyu Easwaran was out for just five runs, leaving Bengal’s batting line-up struggling.
Nabi concluded with 4 for 36 in the second innings, while Sunil Kumar claimed 4 for 27, and Yudhvir chipped in with two wickets as Bengal collapsed without putting up much fight.
With match figures of 5 for 87 in the first innings and 4 for 36 in the second, Nabi’s tally now stands at nine wickets in the match and 55 wickets across the season at an outstanding average of under 13.
For Bengal, who hoped to end their title drought since 1989-90 with this semifinal, the sudden collapse was a heavy blow. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir is now just 83 runs away from making history.
