Ranji Trophy
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 17: Jammu and Kashmir opening batters began in style after a delayed start of play on Day-1 today against Tripura at GGM Science College Hostel Ground, here.
Earlier, the wet patches in the outfield forced the umpires to delay the start of the play and the match could begin at 3:30 pm and a game of 24 overs only was possible on Day-1 today.
Winning the toss and batting first, J&K managed to score 52 runs without losing any wicket in 24 overs. Both the openers- skipper Shubham Khajuria and southpaw Abhinav Puri showed application and character in scoring runs at will on a track were an odd ball kept low. Their innings’ was amalgam of offence and defence, adjusting themselves in accordance with the requirement of the surface.
Shubham was unbeaten on 23 off 74 balls, studded with 3 fours, while Abhinav was at the crease on 29 off 70 balls, studded with 4 boundaries. Abhinav Puri, who is playing his second First-Class match, after representing J&K, way back, in 2015-16 Ranji Trophy season, showed guts and grit to tackle the rival bowlers with utmost ease.
Tripura used six bowlers including MB Mura Singh, Rana Dutta, AK Sarkar, RA Dey, AA Das and SS Ghosh, however none of them emerged successful.