CHANDIGARH, OCT 16: Jammu and Kashmir delivered a statement performance in the Men’s Under-19 Vinoo Mankad Trophy, combining a match-defining bowling effort with a composed batting display to defeat Tamil Nadu by six wickets in Chandigarh on Friday. Ketan Singh’s impressive five-wicket haul dismantled Tamil Nadu’s top order before Arjun Sharma and Rahil Younis spearheaded a successful chase to seal a convincing victory.
Defending their position after being put under pressure by J&K’s bowlers, Tamil Nadu struggled to establish themselves in the innings and were reduced to 69 for six. Ketan proved to be the chief architect of the collapse, finishing with outstanding figures of five for 32 from his full quota of 10 overs. His incisive bowling prevented Tamil Nadu from building early momentum and placed J&K firmly in control of the contest.
With the innings threatening to unravel, Raj Walsh and BK Kishore mounted a spirited recovery to give Tamil Nadu a respectable total. Walsh top-scored with 74, while Kishore contributed 49, providing the resistance their team desperately needed. Contributions of 23 runs each from Prakash Raj and S. Prabanjan in the latter stages helped Tamil Nadu reach 238 before their innings came to an end.
Irfan Ashraf strengthened J&K’s bowling effort with two wickets, while Saksham Charak claimed one, ensuring that Tamil Nadu could not capitalise fully on the recovery. The disciplined collective effort restricted the opposition to a target that J&K’s batting line-up subsequently chased down with authority.
In reply, J&K finished at 239 for four in the 48th over, completing the chase with six wickets remaining. Arjun Sharma led from the front with a magnificent unbeaten 89 off 110 deliveries, striking four boundaries and displaying the temperament required to guide his team through a demanding run chase.
At the other end, Rahil Younis produced a valuable innings of 71 off 90 balls, finding the boundary nine times. The pair’s substantial contributions provided stability to the chase and ensured that J&K remained on course despite the pressure of pursuing a competitive target in a national-level tournament.
Manitvya Sharma added 32 runs to consolidate the innings, while Shourya Chouhan chipped in with 20. Captain Shiva Thakur remained unbeaten on 12, helping complete the formalities as J&K crossed the target in the 48th over.
The contest showcased J&K’s ability to recover from challenging situations and convert individual brilliance into a comprehensive team result. Ketan’s decisive spell created the opportunity, while Arjun and Rahil ensured that the advantage was translated into victory through a measured and assured batting performance.
With a five-wicket haul setting the tone and two accomplished batting performances finishing the job, Jammu and Kashmir registered an emphatic six-wicket triumph, underlining the growing promise of its Under-19 cricketing talent on the national stage.
