*Vivrant scores unbeaten 154 runs
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 23: Jammu and Kashmir Senior Men’s team created history today by qualifying for the knockout stage for the first time in the prestigious ‘Vijay Hazare Trophy’ while the Under-19 Men’s team in sight of qualification in the ongoing Men’s U-25 State A Trophy.
In today’s matches, J&K defeated Uttarakhand in an easy contest at Wankhede Stadium to make it five wins out of six matches at league stage in Vijay Hazare Trophy to qualify for the knockout stage, while J&K also registered thrilling win against formidable Vidharbha in U-25 State A Trophy by 3 wickets at Rajkot.
At Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium Rajkot, put into bat, Vidharbha scored 244/8 in the stipulated 50 overs. A Mokhade top scored with 89 runs off 97 balls, while wicketkeeper/batter Aniket Pande scored unbeaten 51 and YV Rathod contributed 49 runs to the total.
For J&K, spinner Vanshaj Sharma was the pick of the bowlers who took 4 wickets by conceding 38 runs, while medium pacer Lone Nasir Muzaffar and left-arm spinner Taizeem Younis Tak bagged 2 wickets each.
In reply, J&K chased the target in a thrilling contest in 49.5 overs by losing 7 wickets to win the match by 3 wickets. Jiyaad Nazir Magrey top scored with 59 runs off 64 balls (7 fours & 2 sixes), while Dikshant Kundal and skipper Kanhaiya Wadhawan contributed 45 and 41 runs. Lone Nasir Muzaffar and Kawal Preet Singh also contributed valuable 22 and unbeaten 20 runs to the total respectively.
For Vidharbha, Aditya Khilote took 4 wickets, while Prerit Agrawal bagged 3 wickets.
Meanwhile, at Wankhede Stadium Mumbai, put into bat, Uttarakhand scored 251 runs in the stipulated 50 overs, losing 6 wickets in the process. PS Khanduri top scored with 97 runs off 125 balls, while Swapnil K Singh contributed 61 off 82 balls and D Negi made a brisk 52 off 48 balls.
Auqib Nabi was the pick of the bowlers for J&K, who captured 3 important wickets by conceding 48 runs in his 10 overs, while Yudhvir Singh and Mujtaba Yousuf claimed 2 wickets each.
In reply, J&K rode on a huge opening partnership of 182 runs between Vivrant Sharma and Shubham Khajuria and a spectacular unbeaten century by Vivrant Sharma and chased the target easily in 42.2 overs by losing one wicket to win the match by 9 wickets.
Vivrant scored unbeaten 154 off 124 balls (18 fours & 6 sixes), surpassing his previous best of 137 runs, while Shubham made superb 71 off 90 balls (11 fours & 1 six). Henan Nazir remained unbeaten on 24 runs.
The Sub Committee Members of JKCA congratulated the team for this splendid victory.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
