Raj Kumar steals show in JU’s 4th consecutive win

Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 26: Former first class cricketer Raj Kumar Bakshi stole the show by smashing a power-packed unbeaten 71 runs and taking 2 important wickets to help Jammu University drub IGNOU Delhi and register its 4th consecutive victory to seal berth in the quarterfinals of the ongoing 4th All India Vice Chancellor’s T20 Cricket Tournament, being organized by Jammu University at Varsity grounds, here.
Chasing a modest total of 104 runs, Jammu University sailed on a magnificent knock of unbeaten 71 runs by Raj Kumar to reach the target in just 12.5 overs, losing 3 wickets in the process, thus winning the match by 7 wickets. He sent the rival bowlers on a leather hunt by hitting 10 fours and 4 sixes in his brisk knock. Prakshit Manhas also contributed 15 runs to the winning cause. Gourav Sharma and Harish Kumar claimed one wicket each for IGNOU Delhi.
Earlier, winning the toss and batting first, IGNOU scored 103 runs in the stipulated 20 overs, with Darshan Lal, Beer Singh, Arun Sharma and Ramesh scoring 24, 17, 15 and 13 runs to the total respectively. Pawan Singh was pick of the bowlers for Jammu University, who claimed 3 wickets, while Raj Kumar and Rajesh Verma bagged 2 wickets each and Vishal picked one. Raj Kumar was adjudged man of the match for his superb all-round show.
The match was officiated by Saleem-ur-Rehman, JD Singh and Vijay Dogra.
In another match, MANNU Hyderabad trounced SKUAST Jammu by 15 runs in a close contest. Batting first, MANNU Hyderabad scored 143 runs in 20 overs. Md Yousuf Khan was the top scorer with 57 runs, while Israr, Hafeez and Moin contributed 35, 14 and 13 runs to the total respectively. For SKUAST Jammu, Kuldeep Singh took 2 wickets, while Shams-ul-Din, Mohd Razak and Anoop Sharma claimed one wicket each.
In reply, SKUAST Jammu managed to score 128 runs in 18.3 overs, thus lost the match by a narrow margin of 15 runs. Vikram top scored with 29 runs, while Mohan Lal and Abbas contributed 20 and 14 runs to the total respectively. Israr Alam was the wrecker-in-chief for MANNU Hyderabad, who captured 4 important wickets, while Mahesh  and Muqueeb claimed 2 wickets each.
The match was officiated by BCCI panel umpire Harbinder Singh, Mohan Lal and Satpal.
Kashmir University scripted an exciting win over Jamia Islamia University by a narrow margin of 10 runs to almost certainly make it to the knock-out stage. Batting first, Kashmir University scored 129 runs in 20 overs. Suhail remained top scorer with 55 runs, studded with 7 boundaries, while Shahnawaz and Parvez contributed 22 and 18 runs to the total respectively. Adeel Ahmed claimed 3 wickets for Jamia Islamia University, while Fareed Ahmed and Mohd Yousuf picked 2 wickets each.
Jamia, in reply managed to score 119 runs in the stipulated overs by losing 7 wickets, thus lost the match by 10 runs. Adeel Ahmed smashed 59 off 46 balls including 5 fours and 2 sixes, while Mohd Yousuf and Saad Karini scored 25 and 20 runs respectively. Samiullah bagged 3 wickets, while Parvez and Mohi-ud-din claimed 2 wicket each.
The match was officiated by BCCI panel umpire Sudhir Singh and Raman Dogra.
Meanwhile, in another match, SKUAST Kashmir outplayed PU Chandigarh by 14 runs. SKUAST Kashmir, batting first scored a decent total of 169 runs in 20 overs. Imtiyaz scored magnificent 78 runs off 54 balls with 9 fours and 3 sixes, while Ayub and Sohail contributed 29 and 25 runs to the total respectively. Gowher and Amin also chipped in 16 and 14 runs to the total respectively. Ved Prakash took 4 wickets by conceding 20 runs in his 3 overs for PU Chandigarh, while Amrinder Singh claimed one.
In reply, PU Chandigarh, despite good fight by Rajesh Kumar, who scored brilliant 71 runs, fell short of 14 runs, scoring 155 runs in the allotted 20 overs to lose the match by the same margin. Rahul Pathania also contributed 44 runs to the total. Amin and Ayub took 2 wickets each for SKUAST Kashmir, while Najeeb and Majeed claimed one wicket each.
The match was officiated by Suresh Kumar, Mohan Lal and Satpal.