In a sensational turn of events that included 17 dismissals in 63.2 overs, Jammu and Kashmir scripted a remarkable comeback to inch closer to victory over Bengal on the third day of Ranji Trophy semifinal at the Bengal Cricket Academy ground here on Tuesday.
As two pacers, the seasoned Mohammed Shami and the promising Auqib Nabi, went about their business in an exceptional manner for their respective teams, the day produced a mixed bag of emotions for the home fans. Beginning at 198 for five, J & K banked on its batting depth to total 302 even as Shami recorded his maiden eight-wicket haul in First Class cricket and ensured a 26-run first-innings lead for Bengal.
The host dramatically collapsed for 99 in its second essay, setting a modest 126-run target for the visitor to seal a spot in the title decider. J & K stood at 43 for two at stumps.
The opening session belonged to Shami, who breathed fire to take five wickets in two spells. The 35-year-old extracted movement and struck in the second over of the day, having Abid Mushtaq caught at first slip. Six overs later, he had Kanhaiya Wadhawan caught behind.
J & K’s defiant lower-order batters, Nabi (42, 54b, 5×4, 1×6) and Yudhvir Singh (33, 42b, 2×4, 2×6), unleashed attractive shots in their resolute 64-run ninth-wicket stand. But a persistent Shami returned to disturb Yudhvir and Nabi’s off-stump before lunch.
However, Bengal did not capitalise on the advantage. It capitulated spectacularly to be bundled out in two-and-a-half hours in its second innings. The batters’ lack of intent and application, besides poor shot selection, was baffling.
The J & K pacers stuck to their plan – bowling a good line while using the DRS effectively – to trap the top-four batters lbw. Nabi, who finished with a match haul of nine wickets, and left-arm seamer Sunil Kumar claimed four wickets apiece to orchestrate Bengal batters’ humiliating procession.
The scores:
Bengal — 1st innings: 328.
Jammu and Kashmir — 1st innings: Shubham Khajuria lbw b Shami 3, Yawer Hassan lbw b Shami 2, Shubham Singh Pundir c Chatterjee b Mukesh 8, Paras Dogra c Suraj b Mukesh 58, Abdul Samad c Akash b Shami 82, Kanhaiya Wadhawan c Shakir b Shami 29, Abid Mushtaq c Chatterjee b Shami 27, Vanshaj Sharma c Anustup b Shami 3, Auqib Nabi b Shami 42, Yudhvir Singh b Shami 33, Sunil Kumar (not out) 0; Extras (b-2, lb-9, nb-3, w-1): 15; Total (in 76.1 overs): 302.
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-13, 3-13, 4-156, 5-156, 6-205, 7-222, 8-231, 9-295.
Bengal bowling: Shami 22.1-3-90-8, Mukesh 22-2-78-2, Akash 13-0-58-0, Suraj 8-1-39-0, Shahbaz 11-0-26-0.
Bengal — 2nd innings: Abhimanyu Easwaran lbw b Nabi 5, Sudip Chatterjee lbw b Nabi 0, Sudip Gharami lbw b Sunil 0, Anustup Majumdar lbw b Yudhvir 12, Suraj Jaiswal c Pundir b Nabi 14, Shahbaz Ahmed c Wadhawan b Yudhvir 24, Sumanta Gupta c Abid b Sunil 8, Shakir Habib Gandhi b Nabi 10, Akash Deep c Yudhvir b Sunil 0, Mohammed Shami c Yudhvir b Sunil 11, Mukesh Kumar (not out) 6; Extras (lb-2, nb-7) 9; Total (in 25.1 overs): 99.
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-4, 3-7, 4-19, 5-54, 6-66, 7-79, 8-79, 9-93.
Jammu and Kashmir bowling: Nabi 10-2-36-4, Sunil 9.1-1-27-4, Yudhvir 5-0-29-2, Abid 1-0-5-0.
Jammu and Kashmir — 2nd innings: Shubham Khajuria b Akash 1, Yawer Hassan c Shakir b Akash 6, Shubham Pundir (batting) 23, Vanshaj Sharma (batting) 9; Extras (lb-2, nb-2) 4; Total (for two wkts in 13 overs): 43.
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-12.
Bengal bowling: Shami 5-0-21-0, Akash 6-1-12-2, Mukesh 2-0-8-0.
Published – February 17, 2026 08:16 pm IST
