After an action-packed third day, which witnessed as many as 14 wickets tumble, there is little to choose between Jammu & Kashmir and Mumbai. As things stand in their first-round Elite Group-D Ranji Trophy contest at the Sher E Kashmir Cricket Stadium on Friday, the host, which reached 21 for one in the fourth innings at stumps, needs another 222 runs to notch up its third straight win in the competition against Mumbai.
The 42-time champion, on the other hand, will be eyeing nine wickets as soon as possible in defence of a target of 243.
If J&K is in a position to think of victory despite conceding a first-innings lead of 61 runs in Friday’s morning session, it is because of pacer Auqib Nabi’s exploits. The 28-year-old from Baramulla, who was the highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers in the 2024-25 Ranji season (44 scalps in eight matches), produced the goods yet again with figures of 16-3-52-5. It is his 10th five-wicket haul in 32 First Class appearances.
It helped J&K bounce back after adding only 52 runs to its overnight first-innings total of 273 for seven. Nabi’s skill and accuracy meant Mumbai was bundled out for 181 in the third innings.
Jammu and Kashmir players celebrate a wicket
| Photo Credit:
IMRAN NISSAR
Much like the opening day, the visitors’ reputed top-order batters did not click. While Musheer Khan was trapped leg-before by Nabi, Ajinkya Rahane nicked one to Kanhaiya Wadhawan behind the stumps. The score was still on 22 when Mumbai lost a third wicket — Ayush Mhatre was caught in front by Umar Nazir. Sarfaraz Khan appeared to be in good touch during a knock of 32 before also being pinned leg-before by Nabi.
While Shams Mulani and Akash Anand offered some resistance with a stand of 50, the J&K bowlers polished off the lower-order quickly. With Mumbai then claiming the wicket of opener Shubham Khajuria, a fascinating final day is in the offing.
The scores: Mumbai — 1st innings: 386.
Jammu & Kashmir — 1st innings: Qamran Iqbal c Mhatre b Umair 23, Shubham Khajuria c Mhatre b Shardul 0, Musaif Ajaz c Lad b Deshpande 1, Paras Dogra c Mhatre b Shardul 144, Abdul Samad c Musheer b Kotian 44, Kanhaiya Wadhawan st. Anand b Mulani 15, Sahil Lotra b Deshpande 4, Abid Mushtaq c Mulani b Kotian 40, Auqib Nabi c Anand b Deshpande 21, Yudhvir Singh c Deshpande b Mulani 10, Umar Nazir (not out) 4; Extras (nb-1, w-6, b-4, lb-8): 19; Total (in 75.1 overs): 325.
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-2, 3-32, 4-126, 5-161, 6-166, 7-234, 8-290, 9-313.
Mumbai bowling: Shardul 12.1-0-80-2, Deshpande 19-5-57-3, Umair 12-2-49-1, Kotian 14-0-53-2, Mulani 18-1-74-2.
Mumbai — 2nd innings: Musheer Khan lbw b Nabi 8, Ayush Mhatre lbw b Nazir 13, Ajinkya Rahane c Wadhawan b Nabi 0, Siddhesh Lad c Wadhawan b Nabi 10, Sarfaraz Khan lbw b Nabi 32, Shams Mulani lbw b Mushtaq 41, Akash Anand lbw b Nabi 31, Tanush Kotian c Iqbal b Yudhvir 10, Shardul Thakur c Ajaz b Mushtaq 9, Tushar Deshpande (not out) 8, Irfan Umair b Yudhvir 4; Extras (nb-4, lb-11): 15; Total (in 56.5 overs): 181.
Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-22, 3-22, 4-63, 5-70, 6-120, 7-160, 8-160, 9-170.
J&K bowling: Nabi 16-3-52-5, Nazir 11-4-34-1, Yudhvir 11.5-4-30-2, Mushtaq 14-1-40-2, Lotra 3-0-8-0, Khajuria 1-0-6-0.
J&K — 2nd innings: Qamran Iqbal (batting) 11, Shubham Khajuria lbw b Deshpande 0, Musaif Ajaz (batting) 10; Total (for one wkt. in seven overs): 21.
Fall of wicket: 1-4.
Mumbai bowling: Shardul 4-0-19-0, Deshpande 3-2-2-1.
Published – October 17, 2025 07:07 pm IST
