Ranji Trophy: Punjab take lead despite Parvez Rasool century

The J&K captain led by example

First time quarter-finalists Jammu and Kashmir are fighting to keep their Ranji Trophy dream alive at Vadodara against Punjab. Parvez Rasool, the captain of J&K is leading by example as he scored an exemplary century before falling for 103 to give hope to the inexperienced side.

Punjab had scored 304 in the first innings of the 4th quarter-final, with a well made 92 by former-Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh. J&K started their quest brightly, reducing Punjab to 71 for 4, dismissing their openers along with Yuvraj Singh and Mandeep Singh cheaply. Inder Singh along with Gurkeerat Singh steadied the ship, before Gurkeerat departed for a well made 41 off just 38 balls.

Thereafter J&K dominated the proceedings, quickly getting the wickets of Inder Singh and wicket-keeper Khera; reducing Punjab to 146-7, before Harbhajan Singh stepped up and was involved in a brilliant partnership with bowler Sandeep Sharma for the 8th wicket frustrating the opposition.

Sandeep went on to score his half-century, while the Turbanator was dismissed for 92 off just 79 balls. J&K wrapped up the Punjab innings for 304, Umar Nazir being the wrecker in chief claiming 4 wickets.

J&K had a nightmarish start, losing wicket-keeper opener Obaid Haroon in the first over with just 5 runs on the board. The final score at the end of day 1 was J & K at 11/1, trailing by 293 runs.

J&K required another 293 runs at the start of day 2, to equal Punjab’s score and hence avoid knock-out (if there’s no result) by virtue of 1st Innings lead. Opener Adil Rishi started brilliantly for J&K, but had little support from the other end, with Bandeep Singh and Dev Singh both falling cheaply.

Captain and all-rounder Parvez Rasool came to the fore and teamed up with Adil to mount a 4th wicket partnership of 82 runs, before Adil departed after scoring a well paced half century. M Dar and Hardeep Singh followed the opener with meagre scores, before Samiullah Beigh started frustrating the Punjab bowlers. Both Beigh and Rasool hardly appeared troubled by the bowlers as they racked up runs at a good rate.

Soon after Tea, Rasool scored 2 consecutive boundaries en-route to his 5th first-class century, before departing for a hard worked 103. In the second over after tea, Sandeep Sharma got one to stay a touch low as Parvez attempted to defend off the back foot, but that sneaked under his bat.

Sandeep Sharma quickly bagged 2 more wickets for Punjab, reducing J&K to 265 for 9. Sharma was the pick of bowlers for Punjab picking up 4 wickets for just 44. Manpreet Gony dismissed Umar Nazir, getting him caught at short leg as J&K folded for 277, conceding a lead of 27. J&K finished their 1st innings conceding a lead of 27. These 27 runs could prove decisive come the end of the match, if it ends as a draw, as the team with the 1st innings lead progresses.

Brief Scores:

Jammu & Kashmir 277 (Rishi 65, Rasool 103, Sandeep 4-44) trail Punjab 304 (Harbhajan 92, Sandeep 51, Nazir 4-66) by 27 runs.