STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Explosive middle-order batsman Abdul Samad was at his butchering best as he slammed a power-packed 68-ball century, before experienced campaigner and former skipper, Parvez Rasool captured 5 important wickets as Jammu and Kashmir is in sight of a big win against Puducherry in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group match at SSN College ground, Chennai.
As per report reaching here, earlier, resuming from an overnight score of 260/3, J&K rode on a power-packed innings of 103 runs off 73 balls by talented Abdul Samad to score 426 runs in 114.3 overs, thus gaining a vital lead.
This was Samad’s second 68-ball century as he had earlier scored back to back cracking 68-ball hundred in one-session against Assam at Jammu and another brisk 63-ball century again in one-session against Jharkhand at Ranchi in 2019-20 season.
Samad was in awe-inspiring touch today, hitting the ball with fluid grace and utter-brilliance. He sent the bowlers on a leather-hunt and smashed 19 delectable boundaries and 2 massive sixes.
Earlier, opener Qamran Iqbal fell at his overnight score of 96 runs off 220 balls, studded with 13 fours and 2 sixes. Abid Mushtaq and Parvez Rasool contributed 40 and 31 runs to the total respectively. Auqib Nabi chipped in with 18 runs.
For Puducherry, Sagar V Trivedi was the wrecker-in-chief, who captured 5 important wickets by conceding 74 runs in his 22 overs, while Sagar P Udeshi bagged 3 wickets by giving away 115 runs in 42 overs. Fabid Ahmed also claimed 2 wickets.
Trailing by 83 runs, Pondicherry, in their second essay were struggling at 113/9 in 44 overs when the stumps were drawn on day-3 today, thus have just 30 runs in their kitty with one wicket in hand.
J&K bowlers, especially Parvez Rasool ripped through the rival batting line-up to plot their collapse. Sagar V Trivedi top scored with unbeaten 26 runs, while Pavan Deshpande scored 21 runs. First innings centurion, Paras Dogra contributed 16 runs to the total. For J&K, Parvez Rasool was the wrecker-in-chief, who captured 5 important wickets by conceding 29 runs in his 19 overs, while left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq took 2 wickets by giving away 17 runs in his 12 overs. Genuine quick bowler, Umran Malik and medium pacer Auqib Nabi claimed one wicket each. With just a day’s play left and Puducherry just 30 runs ahead with last wicket in hand, J&K is already in a driving seat and it will be a cakewalk rather a formality for them on the final day.