Asif Iqbal
Srinagar, Nov 5 : Rajasthan on Friday handed Jammu and Kashmir cricket team its second consecutive defeat in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021 after the latter lost to Andhra Pradesh in its first outing on Thursday last.
The Shubham Pundhir led Jammu and Kashmir unit put to bat first after losing the toss, started the things far too cautiously with the opening duo of Qamran Iqbal and Vivrant Sharma scoring run a ball. However the defensive approach didn’t pay much as Vivrant Sharma was soon to go, scoring 15 off 16 deliveries. The team scorecard read 28-1. Qamran Iqbal was next to go – who was cleaned up by Ravi Bishnoi – scoring 20 off 24 deliveries.
Middle order batsman Ian Dev Singh showed intent and made quick 45, hitting 5 fours and a six while facing 33 deliveries. However the actual impetus was provided by Abdul Sammad who took 27 deliveries to score 40, hitting 3 fours and 2 sixes – taking the team to 144 for the loss of 4 wickets.
For Rajasthan, TM Ul-Haq took four wickets besides conceding just 16 runs in his four overs. Ravi Bishnoi on the other side picked up two wickets.
Batting second, Rajasthan went off to a shaky start after Arjit Gupta got out on 11 of the bowling off Mujtaba Yousaf. Yousaf followed it by getting the wicket of Abhimanyu Lamba – both the openers were caught by Yudhvir Singh.
Ashok Menaria got run out, leaving ample chances for Jammu and Kashmir to keep the things in control. However Deepak Hooda went after the bowlers, scoring a quickfire fifty. Hooda hit 4 fours and 3 sixes in his 28-ball innings.
Mahipal Lomror on the other side anchored the innings with his unbeaten 41 run innings to see his team final over the line, with 7 balls to spare.
For Jammu and Kashmir Mujtaba Yousaf and Umran Malik took two wickets apiece.
Jammu and Kashmir, left with three matches, will be up against Haryana in its next match tomorrow. (GNS)
