Auqib Nabi’s heroics mask bowling woes, J&K beat Hyderabad by 3 wickets

Srinagar, Jan 8: A sensational unbeaten century by Auqib Nabi rescued Jammu and Kashmir from the brink of defeat as they pulled off a dramatic three-wicket win over Hyderabad in the Vijay Hazare Trophy clash on Thursday.

Chasing 269, J&K were reeling at 90 for 7 before Auqib Nabi (114* off 82 balls) stitched together a match-defining 182-run partnership off 150 deliveries with Vanshaj Sharma (69*), steering the side home in 47.5 overs. The stand, the highest of the innings, turned the contest on its head and sealed one of J&K’s most memorable wins of the season.

Earlier, Hyderabad posted a competitive 268 for 9 after opting to bat. J&K’s bowling, however, once again raised concerns. Despite picking up three wickets, Auqib Nabi conceded 56 runs in his full quota of 10 overs, while Yudhvir Singh leaked 50 runs from five overs at an economy of 10, managing just one wicket.

Notably, all three wickets claimed by Auqib came in the final five overs of the Hyderabad innings, dismissing lower-order batters, leaving questions unanswered about J&K’s ability to strike early and control the middle overs against stronger opposition.

J&K’s top-order batting also endured another difficult outing. The side lost wickets in clusters, with only a 28-run stand emerging as the second-highest partnership of the innings, underlining continued instability at the top.

Vivrant Sharma, once again under scrutiny, failed to make a meaningful contribution, extending his lean run in the tournament. His form remains a concern as J&K look to solidify their batting unit.

The match also sparked debate, raising questions among cricket followers online over the omission of all-rounder Nasir Lone from the playing XI. Many questioned the decision to rest Lone, especially in light of the team’s struggles in both batting depth and bowling balance.

“As compared to other non-performers, Nasir was a better option, as he can contribute with both bat and ball,” said a Srinagar-based cricket observer.

While Auqib Nabi’s extraordinary all-round effort stole the headlines and earned plaudits, many cricket observers in the valley said the victory also papered over persistent issues for J&K, particularly the lack of early wickets and inconsistent top-order returns, that could prove costly in tougher contests ahead.

Meanwhile, despite the thrilling win, J&K’s Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign came to an end on Thursday. With just three wins from seven matches, J&K were knocked out of the tournament, their four defeats proving costly. The victory over Hyderabad, however, at least allowed them to snap a losing streak and sign off the season on a positive note.