Score Update: Rest of India 237 & 306/8 in 94 overs (Sanat Sangwan 55, R Smaran 126 not out; Sahil Lotra 3/71, Umar Nazir Mir 3/87) lead Jammu and Kashmir 278 by 285 runs.
On the third day of the Irani Cup match, Ravichandran Smaran showcased his talent, remaining unbeaten on a solid 126 runs as the Rest of India reached 306 for 8, establishing a commanding lead of 265 runs against Jammu and Kashmir at the Sher-I-Kashmir Stadium on Saturday.
Smaran’s impressive innings came from 131 balls, featuring 15 boundaries and five sixes. Alongside him, opener Sanat Sangwan contributed a valuable 55 runs, securing a good position for the Rest of India as play concluded for the day.
For Jammu and Kashmir, bowlers Sahil Lotra (3 wickets for 71 runs) and Umar Nazir Mir (3 for 87) stood out, but despite some setbacks for the Rest of India, including disappointing performances from prominent players Rishabh Pant (8 runs) and Sarfaraz Khan (0 runs), the batting side managed to hold a significant advantage.
Pant faced a tough day again, falling for just 8 runs after getting trapped in front by Lotra. His struggle continued as he played 18 balls without making much impact. Similarly, Sarfaraz couldn’t find his rhythm, edging a catch to the slip cordon on his fifth ball.
Starting the innings with a deficit of 17 runs and already one wicket down, Rest of India’s Sangwan and Sudeep Kumar Gharami (33 runs) provided a solid beginning, keeping the opposition bowlers in check. Nasir Muzaffar, who had an essential contribution on Day Two, gave Jammu and Kashmir their first breakthrough by dismissing Gharami, who had formed a partnership of 50 runs with Sangwan.
Sangwan’s steady performance was complemented by Saransh Jain, as the duo added 70 runs for the third wicket, pushing Rest of India ahead. However, Sangwan eventually fell to Umar Nazir, caught behind after scoring 55 runs off 160 balls, which included three fours and one six.
Nazir continued to apply pressure, quickly claiming the wickets of Saransh (25 runs) and Sarfaraz in a rapid sequence, bringing Jammu and Kashmir back into contention.
Nevertheless, Smaran’s composed approach helped him partner effectively with Manav Suthar (16 runs), adding 52 runs for the sixth wicket. He then formed a crucial partnership of 109 runs with Mukesh Choudhary (9 runs), providing much-needed stability and pushing Rest of India toward a stronger position before the day’s play came to a close.
At stumps, Mukesh Choudhary remained at the crease with Smaran, setting the stage for an exciting finish in the coming days.
