STATE TIMES NEWS
INDORE: Vanshaj Sharma and Abid Mushtaq’s lower-order fireworks, capped by a defiant 65-run last-wicket stand with Sunil Kumar, propelled Jammu & Kashmir to a challenging 291-run target against Madhya Pradesh in a thrilling Ranji Trophy quarterfinal at Holkar Stadium today. MP staggered in reply at 87/5, still needing 204 with five wickets intact.
Resuming at 84/5, J&K battled to 248 in their second innings-extending their 42-run first-innings lead into a formidable victory equation. Vanshaj Sharma starred unbeaten on 54 off 92 balls (3×4, 1×6), with Abid Mushtaq (41), Abdul Samad (32), Sunil Kumar (26), and Yudhvir Singh (18) providing crucial support.
Madhya Pradesh’s Kuldeep Sen claimed 4/??, while Venkatesh Iyer and Ramveer Singh Gurgar shared 3 wickets apiece.
Chasing a target of 291 runs, MP were 87/5 at stumps on day-3 today. Himanshu Mantri (31), Yash Dubey (20), Shubham Sharma (11) and Venkatesh Iyer (07) were the main contributors.
Auqib Nabi took (3/23) and Abid Mushtaq (2/19) were the successful bowlers for J&K.
Earlier, J&K’s first-innings 194 was anchored by Shubham Khajuria’s 60 and Yudhvir Singh’s 41. MP crumbled to 152, undone by Aaqib Nabi’s match-haul of 10 wickets (7/40 in the first innings) and Sunil Kumar’s 3.
Kuldeep Sen ripped through with 5/66, backed by Kumar Kartikeya Singh (3) and Aryan Pandey (2).
“#RanjiTrophyQuarterFinal A treat for the eyes! Outstanding return catch by Abid Mushtaq-diving left, snaring the ball inches above ground while airborne. Catches win matches. Abid’s stunner sparked MP’s second-innings wobble. Aaqib Nabi’s 10-wicket match haul is legendary. Needing 291, MP limp at 87/5 on Day 3 stumps. J&K poised to make history,” tweeted Brig Anil Gupta, JKCA Member-Administration.