Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 26: Despite grit and application shown by J&K skipper Ian Dev Singh Chauhan and all-rounder Ram Dayal Punia, Andhra Pradesh inflicted an innings defeat on fractured Jammu and Kashmir cricket team in the Ranji trophy 4-day Group-C match at GGM Science College Hostel Ground, here today.
Trailing by 237 runs, Jammu and Kashmir resumed their second innings from an overnight score of 13/0 with an aim to surpass the first innings deficit, but young opener Shubam Khajuria repeated the blunder of hooking the ball in line with the body to plot his dismissal second time in the match in the similar fashion, the only difference being the catcher as it was fine-leg fielder in the first innings and the wicket-keeper in the second one. Before getting himself out on a delivery which never seemed to be wicket taking one, Shubam hit two crispy boundaries in one over of Syed Shahabuddin in his brief score of 12 runs. It was followed by the dismissal of another opener Manish Dogra who was trapped LBW by spinner MD Basa at his individual score of 13 runs and the team’s total on 39 for 2 in 17.1 overs.
Now, with skipper Ian Dev Singh in the middle, Rohit Bhat (2), Hardeep Singh (0) and Manik Gupta (3) fell cheaply to make it 66/5 in 28 overs, adding to the miseries of the team. Ian was joined by Aditya Pratap Singh Jamwal and the duo after consolidating the innings and putting on a partnership of 63 runs, fell in quick succession in a space of six deliveries, to make it make it 129 for the loss of 7 wickets in 50.4 overs. Ian was shaping well for a big knock but tricky speedster Vijay Kumar, leading wicket taker for Andhra so far in the season, dismissed him on an out-swinger to be caught at second slip at his individual score of 65 runs, studded with 12 delectable boundaries. He negotiated the balls on merit and struck all the shots with fluid grace and pure brilliance, while Aditya Pratap Singh also looked to be in sublime touch before being castled by MD Basa at his individual score of 25 runs, which included 4 boundaries. Finally, it was the turn of promising Ram Dayal and gutsy debutant Sahil Sharma, who made a partnership of 59 runs down the order, with Ram Dayal contributing brisk 47 runs with 7 fours and one six and Sahil scoring unbeaten 44 runs including 4 fours and 2 towering sixes. The team managed to score 222 runs, thus lost the match by an innings and 13 runs.
For Andhra Pradesh, right-arm medium fast bowler, Vijay Kumar, left-arm speedster Atchuta Rao and spinner MD Basa bowled with disciplined line and length to capture 3 wickets each. Andhra skipper AG Pradeep was adjudged man of the match for his fabulous century by the jury comprising of the two umpires Rajiv Risodkar and Abhijit Deshmukh along with the match referee Nishanta Bordoloi.
Andhra Pradesh secured 7 points, while J&K got zero. Now, J&K will face Assam in the next match at Guwahati on December 1, 2012.
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