Connect with us

Sports

Ranji Trophy final: Jammu and Kashmir seize control as Karnataka stare at massive first-innings deficit | Cricket News

Published

3 hours ago

on

Ranji Trophy final: Jammu and Kashmir seize control as Karnataka stare at massive first-innings deficit
Hubballi: Jammu and Kashmir’s Auqib Nabi (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)

Hubballi: A surface that had appeared lifeless for most of the first two days sprang to life on Thursday, not because of any change in conditions, but due to the quality of bowling. Unlike Karnataka’s attack, which needed 173.1 overs to dismiss Jammu and Kashmir for an imposing 584 in the first innings, the visitors required just 48.2 overs and 235 minutes to remove half of the home side’s batting line-up. At stumps on Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy final at the KSCA Rajnagar Stadium here, Karnataka were 220/5 in 69 overs, thanks largely to an unbeaten 130 from opener Mayank Agarwal. The eight-time champions, trailing by 364 runs, now require a monumental batting effort from the remaining line-up to stay in contention. The J&K bowlers, on their part, made the red cherry swing, bowled on the stumps and off the seam. They ticked boxes which the more experienced Karnataka line-up failed even to see. Leading the charge was strike bowler Auqib Nabi (3/32), who combined accuracy with intensity. When the battle lines for the title tilt were drawn, much of the discussion had centred on Nabi’s duel with a Karnataka top order that has four Test batters in the mix, and the seamer lived up to expectations. In a decisive passage of play spanning four overs on either side of lunch, Nabi removed KL Rahul, Karun Nair and the season’s highest run-getter R Smaran, each dismissal coming off deliveries that extracted life from an otherwise docile surface. Opening the bowling, Nabi immediately put Rahul under pressure with probing full-length deliveries, occasionally mixing in the short ball. Rahul needed 15 deliveries to get off the mark before briefly finding rhythm with two boundaries off Sunil Kumar. Nabi eventually had the last word, producing a delivery that moved late to take a faint edge through to wicketkeeper Kanhaiya Wadhawan. Sunil struck soon after, dismissing Karnataka skipper Devdutt Padikkal. Rooted to the crease, Padikkal poked tentatively outside off stump, and Abdul Samad completed the catch in the slips. Karun Nair followed almost immediately, falling to a peach of a delivery. Nabi angled one in sharply and Karun misjudged the line, the ball crashing into his off stump. Nabi then completed a devastating spell by removing Smaran, whose uncertain push at a back-of-a-length delivery resulted in an outside edge that Wadhawan safely pouched. Reduced to 57/4, Karnataka were firmly on the back foot, and the packed stadium went silent, barring the celebrations and chirping from the J&K side. Amid the collapse, Mayank stood tall. The opener remained composed despite the carnage around him and focused on the long task ahead. More assured than his teammates, he countered the swing by getting well forward and worked the ball into gaps to ease the pressure on the scoreboard. Shreyas Gopal (27) provided support in a steady partnership before being trapped leg before wicket by Yudhvir Singh. Wicketkeeper Kruthik Krishna (27 batting) then joined Mayank, and the pair ensured Karnataka reached stumps without further damage. With a massive first-innings deficit still looming, the home team’s hopes hinge on whether Mayank and the lower order can pull off a heist. Earlier, J&K, who started the day at 527/6, added 57 runs to their tally before being dismissed for 584. Pacer Prasidh Krishna finished with a five-wicket haul (5/98).

Source link

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Ryan tracks Sydney weather for Arctic Glamour in 2026 Guy Walter Stakes

Published

9 minutes ago

on

26 February 2026

By

Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, trainers of Arctic Glamour, are keeping close tabs on Sydney’s weather patterns because of her struggles on wet tracks prior to her expected engagement in the Guy Walter Stakes at Randwick.

The five-year-old has zero wins from six efforts on yielding ground, prompting Ryan to note they would opt for a backup without hesitation if Randwick turns sloppy on the day to preserve her chance.

“We will know on Saturday morning at 7.30 (AEDT),” Ryan said.

“If she doesn’t run Saturday, she will go to Newcastle. But she won’t be running on rain-affected ground.”

Advertisement

While the Newcastle Stakes (1400m) at the Hunter circuit on March 6 offers a viable Plan B, Ryan hopes local conditions cooperate for Arctic Glamour to begin in the Guy Walter Stakes (1400m).

Arctic Glamour has a sharp first-up profile, including success in the Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) last spring resumption, and her trainer rates her just as well now.

“As good as ever. Her fresh record is great, she’s had seven goes for two wins, a second and a third, and there was one race first-up at Randwick you could just put a line through,” Ryan said.

“Her first trial was good. She probably ran out of a bit of puff.

Advertisement

Then the other day we went back and rode her quiet and she hit the line really well – I didn’t want her to have a hard trial, I wanted her to run home for 300 or 400 metres, and she did that really well.”

Tom Sherry draws barrier four aboard Arctic Glamour, and strong showing could lead straight to the Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill in two weeks’ time.

Discover premier betting sites with competitive sports betting on the Guy Walter Stakes.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

“You can’t keep changing” – Former captain’s huge prediction on India’s combination for IND vs WI T20 World Cup 2026 match

Published

24 minutes ago

on

26 February 2026

By

Former India captain Anil Kumble reckons that the Men in Blue will retain the playing combination that featured in the T20 World Cup 2026 game against Zimbabwe for the do-or-die clash against the West Indies. Admitting that India should ideally have not changed their combination midway through the tournament, he explained that circumstances forced them to do so.

India beat Zimbabwe by 72 runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday, February 26 in a crucial Super 8 clash of the T20 World Cup 2026. Sent into bat, the Men in Blue posted 256-4 on the board and then held Zimbabwe to 184-6. India made a key change at the top of the order, bringing back Sanju Samson as opener, pushing Ishan Kishan down to No.3 and Tilak Varma to No. 6.

Advertisement

During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Kumble opined that the Men in Blue must stick to this combination for their remaining games in the T20 World Cup 2026 and stop chopping and changing the playing XI. He commented:

“Nobody expected Abhishek Sharma to get out three times not scoring a single run. Then, suddenly off-spinner becoming a major hindrance to the batters at the top. The squad had only one [additional] top order batter. So, I guess you have made that decision, now you have to stick to it. You can’t keep changing. I think this combination will continue.”

Opening the batting, Samson got India off to a rapid start, smashing 24 off 15 balls. Abhishek Sharma top-scored with 55 off 30 balls, while Hardik Pandya (50* off 23), Varma (44* off 16), Kishan (38 off 24) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav (33 off 13) all chipped in.

“Why not keep the same team?” – Faf du Plessis backs India to retain playing XI for T20 World Cup 2026 match against West Indies

Former South African captain Faf du Plessis also reckons that India must retain the same team that beat Zimbabwe for the must-win clash against the West Indies. Du Plessis opined that having Samson at the top of the order definitely makes the side stronger and also helps with the left-right combination. He explained:

“They had all these lefties. So, Sanju came in today and gave them a better look. They had a right and a left at the top. It wasn’t as obvious where the holes are. If you lose a couple of wickets, Tilak Varma can come in and play that anchor innings. You’ve got Hardik, so there’s options. It’s a very flexible batting line-up. They’ve played so well today, so why not keep the same team?”

Samson and Abhishek added 48 for the first wicket against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup match. Abhishek and Ishan then featured in a 72-run stand for the second wicket. Towards the end, Varma and Pandya were part of a rollicking 84-run unbeaten partnership, which came off just 31 deliveries.

Advertisement