Nabi’s Five-For and Qamran’s Unbeaten 94 Put J&K on Brink of Historic Ranji Triumph

A fiery contest marked by sharp exchanges and high drama tilted firmly in favour of Jammu & Kashmir on day four of the Ranji Trophy final in Hubbali, as Auqib Nabi’s five-wicket haul and Qamran Iqbal’s unbeaten 94 left the side on the cusp of a maiden title.

Resuming with Karnataka trailing by a massive 364 runs, the hosts needed a substantial partnership to stay alive in the contest. Mayank Agarwal, who brought up a century, found support in Kruthik Krishna as the pair added 79 runs for the sixth wicket off 175 deliveries. However, a contentious lbw decision against Kruthik for 36 shifted the momentum decisively.

Offspinner Sahil Lotra, operating from around the wicket, struck Kruthik on the front pad with a delivery that angled in sharply. Though the batter reviewed immediately, replays were inconclusive as to whether the ball had brushed the bat before hitting the pad. With no clear evidence to overturn the on-field decision, the third umpire upheld the call, much to the batter’s disbelief.

The decision opened the floodgates. With the second new ball in hand, Auqib Nabi produced a devastating spell, finishing with figures of 5 for 54 as Karnataka were bowled out for 293. Jammu & Kashmir secured a commanding 291-run first-innings lead.

Opting to bat again instead of enforcing the follow-on, J&K endured an early wobble as Karnataka’s bowlers reduced them to 11 for 2 in a desperate search for a turnaround. But Qamran Iqbal, employing his unorthodox technique to telling effect, anchored the innings with a composed, unbeaten 94.

Earlier, left-arm seamer Sunil Kumar made an immediate impact with the new ball, dismissing Vidhyadhar Patil with a delivery angled in from wide of the crease, inducing a thin edge to the wicketkeeper.

Karnataka’s faint hopes were briefly lifted when Mayank Agarwal survived a chance off Nabi, edging to the right of stand-in wicketkeeper Dikshant Kundal, who failed to hold on. The reprieve allowed Agarwal to reach 150, but it proved only a temporary setback for J&K as Nabi soon returned to dismantle the lower order.

At stumps on day four, Jammu & Kashmir had extended their overall lead to 477 runs with six wickets in hand, leaving Karnataka staring at an improbable chase and J&K within touching distance of a historic first Ranji Trophy title.