Jammu and Kashmir scripted history by reaching their maiden Ranji Trophy final, registering a dominant six-wicket victory over Bengal at the Bengal Cricket Academy ground in Kalyani on Wednesday.
The landmark win was powered by a brilliant all-round display from Auqib Nabi, who finished with nine wickets in the match and chipped in with a crucial 42 off 54 balls in the first innings. His performance proved decisive as J&K outplayed the two-time champions in all departments.
Bengal collapsed for 99 in their second innings, with Nabi and Sunil Kumar sharing four wickets each, leaving J&K a manageable target of 126 runs.
In the chase, Vanshaj Sharma held his nerve, remaining unbeaten on 43 and sealing the win with a six off Mukesh Kumar. He was well supported by Abdul Samad, who scored a brisk 30 off 27 balls.
Nabi has been the backbone of J&K’s dream run this season. Earlier, he starred in the quarterfinal against Madhya Pradesh, returning sensational match figures of 12 for 110, including 7 for 40 in the first innings and 5 for 70 in the second, as J&K clinched a 56-run victory.
J&K are now likely to face Karnataka in the final, with Karnataka poised to secure a first-innings lead against Uttarakhand in the other semifinal — setting the stage for a historic title clash.
