Auqib Nabi Stars as Jammu Kashmir Edge Closer to Ranji Glory | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi produced a brilliant opening spell to dismantle Karnataka’s top-order, keeping his team within striking distance of a historic Ranji Trophy title as the hosts reached 220 for five on Thursday.

JK had earlier posted 584 in their first innings, being bowled out on the third day. The 29-year-old Nabi tore through Karnataka’s batting line-up, taking 3 wickets for 32 runs in 14 overs, including nine consecutive overs in an unrelenting first spell that unsettled several established Indian batsmen.

Nabi struck first by removing KL Rahul and then claimed two wickets in consecutive deliveries, dismissing India international Karun Nair with a sharply angled delivery that uprooted the off stump, followed immediately by in-form Smaran Ravichandran.

Veteran Mayank Agarwal (130 off 207 balls) held the innings together with solid defensive play and survived a dropped catch on 124. Despite his resistance, Karnataka remained 364 runs behind JK at stumps and required another 165 runs to avoid the follow-on.

Since making their Ranji Trophy debut in 1959-60, Jammu and Kashmir reached their maiden semifinal this season and have sustained their remarkable run into the final. Nabi has been the team’s standout performer throughout the campaign, with Thursday’s haul taking his season tally to 58 wickets, just one shy of Uttarakhand spinner Mayank Mishra’s 59.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir captain Paras Dogra was fined 50 percent of his match fee and handed two demerit points for head-butting Karnataka substitute fielder KV Aneesh during day two of the final on Wednesday.

Brief Scores:

Jammu and Kashmir: 584 all out in 173.1 overs (Shubham Pundir 121, Yawer Hassan 88, Sahil Lotra 72, Paras Dogra 70, Kanhaiya Wadhawan 70; Prasidh Krishna 5/98)

Karnataka: 220/5 in 69 overs (Mayank Agarwal 130 (not out); Auqib Nabi 3/32)