JAMMU, OCT 15: Jammu & Kashmir endured a difficult outing in the U-23 CK Nayudu Trophy as a dominant Chhattisgarh side registered a comprehensive nine-wicket victory at the GGM Science College Hostel Ground on Thursday, capitalising on a commanding first-innings performance and a devastating bowling display to wrap up the contest with minimal resistance in the final innings.
The match turned decisively in Chhattisgarh’s favour after J&K were dismissed for 175 in their first innings. The visitors responded with a formidable 445, building a decisive 270-run lead that placed the home side under considerable pressure. Their batting effort was headlined by Shobhit Sharma, who produced an outstanding unbeaten 220 off 270 balls, striking 34 fours and a six in a marathon innings that laid the foundation for the victory.
Sharma found an equally valuable partner in Anurag Sahu, who scored 87 off 147 deliveries, including 11 boundaries and a six. The pair anchored Chhattisgarh’s innings, while Ambarish Singh contributed 31, Balaji Roa made 30 and Shashwat Shardha added 26 to ensure the visitors crossed the 400-run mark. For J&K, Janib Javid took three wickets and Umar Khan claimed two, but the attack could not prevent Chhattisgarh from establishing a commanding position.
With a substantial deficit to overcome, J&K needed a determined response in their second innings and managed to produce 326 runs. Captain Rydham Sharma led the recovery with a composed batting effort, while Arnav Gupta contributed a patient 73 off 161 balls. Their efforts helped the hosts improve considerably on their first-innings total, although the deficit remained too large to change the overall complexion of the match.
Chhattisgarh’s bowling attack ensured that J&K could not turn their second-innings recovery into a serious challenge. Manraj Singh Dhillon delivered an impressive spell, finishing with five wickets for 73 runs from 25.4 overs. Varun Bhuie provided equally effective support, claiming five wickets for 106 runs in 35 overs. The two bowlers shared all ten wickets, bringing the innings to a close and restricting J&K to a lead that left the visitors with only 67 runs to win.
Chhattisgarh resumed their second innings at 20 without loss and approached the target confidently. Anurag Sahu remained unbeaten on 35 off 48 balls, striking five fours and a six, while Ashish Dahariya contributed an unbeaten 16. J&K managed a breakthrough when Janib Javid dismissed Sharma for three, but the wicket did little to slow the visitors’ progress as they completed the chase with nine wickets in hand.
The result reflected Chhattisgarh’s superiority across all three departments. Sharma’s double century provided the decisive batting advantage, Sahu contributed significantly with the bat, and the twin five-wicket hauls ensured that J&K could not recover sufficiently to put the visitors under pressure. Although the hosts showed greater determination in their second innings, the damage caused by the first-innings deficit proved insurmountable.
For Jammu & Kashmir, the match offered important lessons in first-innings batting, partnerships and the need to sustain pressure with the ball in the longer format. Chhattisgarh, meanwhile, emerged with a convincing victory built on individual brilliance and collective discipline, underlining their ability to capitalise on opportunities and maintain control throughout the contest.
