*It wasn’t a big thing: Dogra downplays head-butting incident
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 25: Jammu & Kashmir reached 527 for 6 at stumps on the second day of the Ranji Trophy final, with skipper Paras Dogra scoring a gutsy 70. His innings, however, was overshadowed by a controversial incident in which Dogra head-butted Karnataka substitute KV Aneesh after hitting a streaky boundary. The altercation prompted intervention from senior Karnataka batsman Mayank Agarwal and on-field umpires Rohan Pandit and Ulhas Gandhe. Karnataka captain Devdutt Padikkal also raised the matter with the umpires. However, Jammu and Kashmir skipper downplayed the on-field incident in which he head-butted Karnataka player KV Aneesh, saying it wasn’t a “big thing” during the second day’s play in the Ranji Trophy final.
“It was just in a little heat of the moment. Not a big thing. Yeah, it is all settled now. That’s (a hot day) a different thing and it was momentary. We started talking and chatting after that so it’s all well,” Dogra added.
On the field, J&K’s innings was built on significant contributions from keeper-batsman Kanhaiya Wadhawan, who scored 70 and Sahil Lotra, who was unbeaten on 57. Veteran Dogra and Wadhawan added 110 runs in 32 overs, demonstrating patience and skill against Karnataka pacer Prasidh Krishna, who claimed 3/90 but struggled to contain the partnership.
Karnataka had started the day well, with overnight centurion Shubham Pundir dismissed early for 121 off 247 balls. His 124-run stand with Abdul Samad (61) was broken when Pundir edged medium pacer Vidyadhar Patil (1/104) to Aneesh at silly point. Dogra and Wadhawan then steadied the innings, farming the strike carefully against spinners Shreyas Gopal (1/130) and Shikhar Shetty (1/112).
Dogra faced a barrage of deliveries from the Karnataka bowlers but showcased excellent temperament, hitting eight fours off 166 balls. Wadhawan matched him stroke for stroke, adding nine boundaries in his 109-ball innings. Later, Dogra stitched a 54-run partnership with Lotra, who also scored a half-century.
With four overs remaining before the third new ball, J&K looks poised to post a massive total. Karnataka will rely on its star-studded batting line-up, featuring former and current Test players, to mount a strong response in the single-innings match. The final remains finely poised, with both the cricketing battle and Dogra’s controversial conduct dominating discussions.
Brief scores:
J&K: 527/6 in 156 overs (Shubham Pundir 121, Yawer Hassan 88, Paras Dogra 70, Kanhaiya Wadhawan 70, Sahil Lotra 54 batting, Prasidh Krishna 3/90) vs Karnataka.
“One good bowling innings away from a maiden Ranji Trophy title, but the pitch has little in it for the bowlers” J&K are playing like they were born for Ranji Trophy finals, with confidence & flair plus a bit of aggression when needed. I’ve never followed a domestic cricket match so closely: CM-Omar Abdullah
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