KINS Desk
Srinagar, Oct 17 (KINS):Jammu and Kashmir have been set a challenging target of 243 runs to pull off an upset against domestic heavyweights Mumbai, who were bowled out for 181 in their second innings on the third day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group D clash at the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium here on Thursday.
Earlier, J&K posted 325 in their first innings, powered by a magnificent 144-run knock from veteran Paras Dogra, before Mumbai’s second-innings collapse brought the hosts right back into the contest.
Mumbai’s second innings began disastrously as they lost three wickets within the first six overs. Musheer Khan (8), Ajinkya Rahane (0), and Ayush Mhatre (13) were all dismissed cheaply, leaving the visitors reeling.
Siddhesh Lad and Sarfaraz Khan then attempted to rebuild the innings, but Auqib Nabi’s fiery spell derailed the recovery. Nabi trapped Sarfaraz leg-before for 32 off 43 balls and later dismissed Lad, who managed just 4 off 40 deliveries.
Akash Anand (31) and Shams Mulani (41 off 108) offered brief resistance before falling to Nabi and Abid Mushtaq respectively. The tail folded soon after, with Tanush Kotian (10), Shardul Thakur (9), and Irfan Umair (4) adding only 23 runs combined.
Auqib Nabi was the standout performer, taking a sensational five-wicket haul, while Yudhvir Singh and Abid Mushtaq picked up two wickets each. Umar Nazir claimed one.
Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir were bowled out for 325, falling short of Mumbai’s first-innings total of 386, but not before Paras Dogra delivered a vintage performance.
Resuming from 273 for 7, the 40-year-old right-hander continued his gritty resistance, farming the strike expertly as wickets tumbled around him. His 208-ball knock, decorated with 19 fours and a six, stood out as a lesson in patience and precision — the highest individual score of the match so far.
Dogra’s wicket, claimed by Mumbai skipper Shardul Thakur, ended a remarkable innings that kept J&K within striking distance. Earlier, Auqib Nabi (21) and Yudhvir Singh (10) contributed valuable runs before falling to Tushar Deshpande and Shams Mulani respectively.
Mumbai’s bowling was led by Deshpande, who picked up 3 wickets, while Thakur, Mulani, and Tanush Kotian claimed two each. Irfan Umair also chipped in with one wicket.
Dogra’s century on Day 2 was his 32nd in Ranji Trophy cricket, making him the second-highest century-maker in the tournament’s history — behind only Wasim Jaffer (40 tons).
The veteran stitched crucial partnerships of 94 runs with Abdul Samad (44) and 68 with Abid Mushtaq (40) to bring J&K back into the match after an early collapse to 2 for 2.
At stumps on Day 3, Jammu and Kashmir reached 21 for 1, still needing 222 runs for an outright win. With four sessions remaining and both teams evenly poised, a gripping final day’s play awaits at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium.
If the match ends in a draw, Mumbai will pocket three points for their first-innings lead, while Jammu & Kashmir will settle for one.
Cricket fans in the Valley are set for an enthralling finale as J&K eye a famous victory against the 41-time Ranji champions.(KINS)
