Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir scripted a landmark moment in their cricket history by reaching the Ranji Trophy final for the first time in 67 years on Wednesday. J&K defeated two-time champions Bengal by six wickets in the semifinal at the BCA Ground in Kalyan. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Chasing a modest target of 126, J&K showed composure under pressure to seal victory in just 34.4 overs and book their place in the summit clash.
Resuming the day at 43 for 2, J&K suffered early setbacks when overnight batter Shubham Pundir and skipper Paras Dogra were dismissed cheaply, raising hopes of a Bengal comeback. However, Vanshaj Sharma and Abdul Samad turned the tide with remarkable calmness. Vanshaj remained unbeaten on 43, while Samad provided solid support with an unbeaten 30, as their crucial 55-run partnership guided the visitors to a famous win.Earlier, the foundation for the victory was laid by pace spearhead Auqib Nabi, who delivered a match-winning performance. The fast bowler claimed nine wickets in the match, dismantling Bengal’s batting and ensuring the target remained well within reach.The achievement marks a dramatic rise for Jammu and Kashmir, who made their Ranji Trophy debut in the 1959-60 season but had rarely been considered title contenders. Their previous best came in the 2013-14 season when they reached the knockout stage after a long gap.Brief scores:
- Bengal: 328 and 99 in 25.1 overs.
- Jammu and Kashmir: 302 and 126 for 4 in 34.4 overs (Vanshaj Sharma 43 not out, Abdul Samad 30 not out).
