Srinagar Feb 24: Jammu and Kashmir tightened its grip on the Ranji Trophy final against Karnataka, posting a commanding 527/6 at the end of day 2 at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground, before rain and bad light brought an early halt to play.
Riding on a strong foundation laid on day 1, J&K batters continued to dominate, with Shubham Pundir leading the charge with a magnificent 121 off 247 balls. His innings, laced with 12 boundaries and two sixes, anchored the side through crucial phases and set the tone for a massive total.
He was well-supported by Yawer Hassan, who compiled a fluent 88 on day one and skipper Paras Dogra, whose composed 70 helped stabilize the innings during a testing middle phase.
Pundir and Samad played false strokes and fell in quick succession.
After a brief wobble triggered by Karnataka’s pace spearhead Prasidh Krishna, who picked up three key wickets, J&K regained control through a vital 110-run partnership between Dogra and wicketkeeper Kanhaiya Wadhawan (70). The stand blunted Karnataka’s attack and ensured the momentum remained with J&K.
Further down the order, Sahil Lotra played a crucial unbeaten knock of 57, showing grit and patience under pressure. He was ably supported by Abid Mushtaq, who remained not out on 20, as the duo extended J&K’s dominance with an unbroken stand.
Despite disciplined spells from Karnataka bowlers, including Shreyas Gopal and Vidyadhar Patil, the bowling unit struggled to contain the flow of runs on a batting-friendly surface. Karnataka’s efforts were further hampered by missed opportunities and the inability to sustain pressure for long periods.
Play was eventually called off early due to fading light, followed by rain, with more than an hour of action lost in the final session.
At stumps, Jammu and Kashmir, in their maiden Ranji Trophy final appearance, found themselves in a commanding position.
With a massive total on the board and wickets in hand, they have firmly pushed Karnataka onto the back foot.
Karnataka will now need an exceptional bowling effort early on day 3 to prevent J&K from piling on an even bigger score, as the latter inch closer to scripting history in the Ranji Trophy final—(KNO)
