Srinagar, Oct 3 (JKNS): Ravichandran Smaran’s unbeaten century helped Rest of India recover from a precarious position and extend their lead over Jammu and Kashmir to 265 runs at stumps on the third day of the Irani Cup encounter at Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar on Saturday.
Details available with news agency JKNS stated that, Rest of India, who had started the day with a 17-run deficit, ended on 306 for eight after 94 overs, with Smaran unbeaten on 126 and Mukesh Choudhary on nine.
J&K bowlers had reduced Rest of India to 197 for eight, leaving the visitors with a lead of just 156 runs. However, Smaran and Choudhary frustrated the hosts with an unbeaten 109-run partnership for the ninth wicket.
Smaran, who had scored 68 in Rest of India’s first innings, once again played a crucial rescue innings. He completed his second fifty of the match before reaching his century, remaining unbeaten on 126 off 131 balls, including 15 fours and five sixes.
Sanat Sangwan, who was unbeaten on 52 at lunch, made 55 off 160 balls before Umar Nazir Mir provided J&K with the breakthrough. The pacer then dismissed Saransh Jain for 25 and Sarfaraz Khan for a duck in the same over, reducing Rest of India from 128 for two to 131 for five.
Umar Nazir finished with three wickets for 87 runs, while Sahil Lotra also claimed three for 71. Lotra dismissed Manav Suthar for 16 before removing Rest of India captain Rishabh Pant for eight and Akash Deep for two.
Despite the collapse, Smaran continued to hold one end together. He first added 52 runs with Suthar before finding a valuable partner in Choudhary, who remained unbeaten on nine off 47 balls.
Earlier, J&K secured a crucial 41-run first-innings lead after being bowled out for 278 in reply to Rest of India’s 237.
J&K had slipped to 166 for eight before captain Paras Dogra, Abdul Samad and Lone Nasir Muzaffar helped the hosts recover. Dogra top-scored with 75, while Samad contributed 57.
Nasir then produced an attacking 64 off just 58 balls, smashing eight fours and three sixes, to take J&K past Rest of India’s first-innings total.
Rest of India began their second innings cautiously after losing Shikhar Mohan early. Sudip Kumar Gharami made 33 before being dismissed by Nasir, while Sangwan and Saransh helped steady the innings before J&K’s bowlers triggered the middle-order collapse.
Rest of India will resume on Sunday with two wickets in hand and Smaran still at the crease. J&K will look to wrap up the innings quickly before beginning their chase.
The Irani Cup encounter, being played from October 1 to 5, is the first edition of the prestigious fixture to be hosted in Srinagar.
Score: Rest of India 237 & 306/8 (94 overs); J&K 278. Rest of India lead by 265 runs. (JKNS)