Unbeaten 126 takes ROI to 306/8; Nasir’s 64 and 3 wickets had earlier secured J&K a 41-run first-innings lead
Srinagar : Ravichandran Smaran’s unbeaten century kept Rest of India in control while Lone Nasir Muzaffar’s impressive all-round display gave Jammu and Kashmir a crucial first-innings advantage on a dramatic third day of the Irani Cup at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium here on Saturday.
Rest of India, who resumed their second innings with a 17-run deficit, reached 306 for eight in 94 overs by stumps, taking their overall lead to 265 runs. Smaran remained unbeaten on 126 off 131 balls, with 15 fours and five sixes, while Mukesh Choudhary was not out on nine.
J&K had reduced the visitors to 197 for eight, leaving them with a lead of only 156 runs, but Smaran and Choudhary frustrated the hosts with an unbeaten 109-run ninth-wicket partnership.
Smaran, who had made 68 in the first innings, held the innings together after J&K’s bowlers triggered a middle-order collapse. Sanat Sangwan made 55 off 160 balls before Umar Nazir Mir dismissed him, Saransh Jain and Sarfaraz Khan in a productive spell.
Umar Nazir finished with three for 87, while Sahil Lotra also claimed three wickets for 71 runs. Lotra removed Manav Suthar, Rest of India captain Rishabh Pant and Akash Deep as J&K looked set to wrap up the innings.
The late Smaran-Choudhary stand, however, changed the complexion of the match and left J&K facing a substantial chase when play resumes on Sunday.
Earlier, J&K had secured a 41-run first-innings lead after being bowled out for 278 in reply to Rest of India’s 237. Captain Paras Dogra top-scored with 75 and Abdul Samad contributed 57, but it was Nasir who provided the late surge with a counter-attacking 64 off 58 balls.
J&K had slipped to 166 for eight before Nasir joined Dogra and helped add 64 runs for the ninth wicket. After Dogra’s dismissal, Nasir added another 48 with Sunil Kumar to take J&K past Rest of India’s total.
Nasir’s innings included eight fours and three sixes and came after he had claimed three wickets in Rest of India’s first innings. Playing only his fourth first-class match, he also took his maiden first-class wicket in the Irani Cup.
