* Abid, Kewal score fifties
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 27: A superb display of skill, resilience and leadership was on show as skipper Paras Dogra smashed a majestic century, while Abid Mushtaq and Kawal Preet Singh contributed valuable half-centuries to help Jammu and Kashmir gain a slender but vital first innings lead over Odisha in the ongoing Bucchi Babu Invitation Cricket Tournament, organised by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) at SSN Ground, Chennai.
In response to Odisha’s first innings total of 314 runs, J&K was reeling at four down early, but a stellar fightback led by Paras Dogra’s sublime 141-run knock off 218 balls, featuring 15 fours and 4 sixes, turned the tide. He was ably supported by all-rounder Abid Mushtaq, who played a fluent innings of 71 runs off 101 balls, hitting 6 fours and 2 sixes, while Kawal Preet Singh added a steady 50 off 83 deliveries with 6 boundaries. Their combined efforts took J&K to 330 all out in 86.5 overs, earning a slender 16-run first innings lead.
For Odisha, Syed Tuffel Ahammed was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4/116 in 25.5 overs. Govind Poddar took 3 wickets, while Rajesh Mohanty and Piyush Panigrahi chipped in with one wicket each. At stumps on Day 2, Odisha was 6/1 in their second innings after just four balls, losing opener OM T Munde to a fiery delivery from speedster Umran Malik.
Earlier on Day 1, Odisha posted 314 runs, largely due to a fine century (104) from Rajesh Dhupar. For J&K, Abid Mushtaq and Vanshaj Sharma took 4 wickets each, while Umran Malik picked up 2. JKCA officials Brig Anil Gupta and Mithun Manhas lauded the team’s character and Paras Dogra’s inspirational leadership in helping secure the crucial lead.
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