J-K record historic win over Mumbai in Ranji Trophy

[MarJana]

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Mumbai: Jammu and Kashmir continued their rapid rise in the domestic circuit, notching up a stunning four-wicket win over 40-time champions Mumbai with more than a session to spare in their Ranji Trophy 2014-15 Group A opener at the Wankhede Stadium here on Wednesday.

Chasing a modest target of 237 and resuming at their overnight total of 58/1, J&K kept composure despite losing five more wickets to reach the target 73 minutes after lunch on the fourth and final day. The visitors lost overnight batsman Bandeep Singh quite early, but then were aided by small partnerships that steered them home.

First innings centurion Shubhum Khajuria made 78 off 140 deliveries before falling to Iqbal Abdulla with his side still needing 66 runs for the win. He added 52 runs with Ian Chauhan (30) in 175 balls for the third wicket to lead chase. Later, he put on 53 runs with his captain Parvez Rasool (32) for the fourth wicket to bring them closer to the target. Though both departed within the space of 10 deliveries with the score at 171, Hardeep Singh (41*) steered them forward, adding 44 runs with Waseem Raja (16).

After Raja's run-out, Hardeep , who batted for 104 minutes and hit four fours, added 22 runs for the unconquered seventh wicket stand with wicketkeeper Obaid Haroon (9*) to dash Mumbai's hopes.

Team coach Sunil Joshi said for the first time in the last 20 years, he saw Mumbai batsmen "showing vulnerability against pace bowling."

Rasool said the team has stood up to the challenge of facing much stronger teams. "To beat Mumbai in Mumbai is a great achievement. Our graph has been rising steadily over the last 2-3 years, but we were told playing in elite division is different. We have answered that question," said Rasool beating the heavyweights in their very first clash in 80 years of the tournament.

Brief scores: Mumbai 236 and 254 lost to J&K 254 and 237/6 (Shubham Khajuria 78, Ian Chauhan 30, Parveez Rasool 32, Hardeep Singh 41*; Vishal Dhabolkar 2/67) by four wickets.​
 
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