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| J&K rewrite Ranji history, enter semifinals for first time | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 9: Jammu and Kashmir etched their name in Indian domestic cricket history on Monday, qualifying for the Ranji Trophy semifinals for the first time after a memorable 56-run victory over former champions Madhya Pradesh, driven by a sensational match-winning performance from pacer Auqib Nabi. Chasing a target of 291, Madhya Pradesh were bowled out for 234 as the 29-year-old fast bowler produced a career-defining spell, finishing with a remarkable match haul of 12 wickets. The victory propelled Jammu and Kashmir into the last four of India’s premier domestic tournament—an unprecedented achievement in their 67-year Ranji Trophy journey.
Auqib emerged as the undisputed hero of the contest, following his devastating first-innings figures of 7 for 40 with another incisive spell of 5 for 70 in the second innings. His sustained accuracy and movement dismantled the Madhya Pradesh batting lineup, leaving the former champions with no route back into the match.
Resuming the final day at 84 for 5, Madhya Pradesh’s hopes of a recovery were quickly dashed as Auqib struck early, dismissing Ramveer Gurjar for 11. He later ended the resistance offered by Saransh Jain, who fought valiantly with a well-made 64 off 81 balls. India all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer, a key wicket for J&K, was also removed early in the day after adding only 20 runs to the overnight total.
Although tailender Aryan Pandey contributed a brief 22-run knock, the collapse proved inevitable as Jammu and Kashmir’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure. Left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq provided effective support to Auqib, claiming three wickets for 49 runs to seal the historic win.
With this landmark triumph, Jammu and Kashmir have advanced to the Ranji Trophy semifinals, where they will face the winner of the quarterfinal between Andhra and Bengal. The other semifinal will be contested between Uttarakhand and Karnataka.
The result marks a remarkable rise for the J&K side, who had last reached the Ranji knockout stage six years ago. Earlier this season, they had already announced their resurgence by defeating a star-studded Mumbai team by five wickets—a victory that now stands as a precursor to their historic semifinal breakthrough. |
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