New Delhi: Auqib Nabi created a long-running spell as he took a career-best 12 wickets as Jammu and Kashmir beat former champions Madhya Pradesh by 56 runs to seal the title ranji trophy Monday’s semifinals.With a target of 291 on the penultimate day – a challenge posed by their own batting errors – Madhya Pradesh ended up bowling out for 234, ending their campaign and sending J&K into the last four. Jammu and Kashmir will now face the winner of the quarter-final between Andhra Pradesh and Bengal, while the other semi-final will pit Uttarakhand against Karnataka.
The 29-year-old Ochibu was the spoiler in chief once again, taking 5/70 after a stunning 7/40 in the first innings. His figures of 12 off 110 proved decisive as Madhya Pradesh struggled to contain his relentless accuracy and movement.The day ended at 84/5 and with Ochib’s odds already at 3/23 overnight, Madhya Pradesh never really recovered. The pacers struck early, picking off Ramveer Gurjar for 11 and then dismissed Saransh Jain, dismantling the backbone of resistance who struggled to score 64 off 81 balls to keep hopes alive.After that, the end came quickly. Tailender Aryan Pandey contributed 22 points but by then the collapse had begun. India all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer was the first to start earlier in the day with a score of 104 and Madhya Pradesh added just 20 runs to their night score before losing him.Jammu and Kashmir sensed the opening and tightened the screws. Saransh Jain, Madhya Pradesh’s lone bright spot, attempted to stage a revival by forging a useful partnership with Shubham Sharma (32) and Gurjar, smashing seven boundaries and six boundaries in the process. However, when Ochib returned to end Jain’s resistance, the visitors had little to offer.Left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq provided excellent support at the other end and finished with figures of 3 for 49 to ensure the team did not arrive late.Jammu and Kashmir, under the devastating leadership of Oqib, continued their impressive run in the tournament by confidently reaching the Ranji Trophy semi-finals with an all-round effort.
