KALYANI (West Bengal), Feb 17: Auqib Nabi’s unforgettable nine-wicket match haul and gritty 42-ball 42 propelled Jammu and Kashmir to the brink of their maiden Ranji Trophy final, dismissing Bengal for just 99 on day three despite Mohammed Shami’s career-best 8/90.
Resuming at 198/5, J&K reached 302 with Nabi and Yudhvir Singh’s crucial 64-run stand frustrating Bengal’s lead push, before Nabi (4/36) and Sunil Kumar (4/27) orchestrated a Bengal collapse in 25.1 overs—toppling Easwaran (5) and Gharami (duck)—leaving J&K needing 83 more at 43/2 (Pundir 23*).
Shami’s relentless mid-130s burst accounted for five in the morning session, but Nabi’s season tally hit 55 wickets at under 13 average, positioning J&K—with two days left—for glory against a shell-shocked Bengal eyeing an improbable turnaround. Brief scores: Bengal 328 & 99 (Shahbaz 24); J&K 302 (Samad 82) & 43/2.
