SRINAGAR, OCT 20: An exceptional all-round performance by Nachiket Bhute propelled Vidarbha to a hard-fought three-wicket victory over Jammu and Kashmir in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A encounter at the Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium, as the visitors overcame a tense chase of 79 runs to secure six crucial points.
Bhute emerged as the decisive figure of the contest, first dismantling the J&K batting line-up with a five-wicket haul in the second innings and then contributing an unbeaten 13 during Vidarbha’s nervy run chase. His decisive contribution overshadowed the determined efforts of J&K pacers Sunil Kumar and Umar Nazir, who kept the contest alive with disciplined bowling despite their team’s eventual defeat.
Defending a modest target of 79, J&K relied heavily on their pace attack to create pressure, and Sunil Kumar responded with an impressive spell of 4 for 30 in 11 overs. Umar Nazir provided valuable support, claiming 2 for 50 in 11.5 overs. Their sustained efforts made the chase considerably more difficult than the target suggested, forcing Vidarbha to navigate a mid-innings wobble before reaching 79 in the 23rd over.
Mandar Mahale top-scored for Vidarbha with a patient 25 off 47 deliveries, striking three boundaries. Harsh Dubey remained unbeaten on 22 off 40 balls, including two fours, while Bhute’s unbeaten 13 ensured that Vidarbha crossed the finish line with three wickets in hand.
Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir’s second innings had collapsed dramatically after the team resumed at a precarious 7 for 4. The hosts were eventually dismissed for 123, leaving Vidarbha with a manageable target but also providing their bowlers an opportunity to exploit the conditions.
Bhute spearheaded the visitors’ attack, returning outstanding figures of 5 for 48 in 14 overs. Harsh Dubey delivered a particularly economical spell, claiming 2 for 3 in 5.2 overs, while Yash Thakur, Praful Hinge and Rajneesh Gurbani took one wicket each.
J&K captain Paras Dogra could contribute only six runs as the innings struggled to recover from the early collapse. Qamran Iqbal offered resistance with a determined 38, while Samad injected late momentum through an aggressive 39 off just 30 deliveries, hitting three fours and four sixes. However, the late counterattack proved insufficient to establish a challenging target for the visitors.
The foundation of Vidarbha’s victory had been laid in their first innings, when they recovered from a difficult position to post 305 in reply to J&K’s 260, securing a valuable 45-run lead. Samarth played a pivotal role in the recovery, scoring a commanding 143 off 202 balls, studded with 17 fours and a six.
He received excellent support from Rajneesh Gurbani, who registered a career-best 64 off 104 deliveries, including 10 fours and a six. Their crucial 136-run partnership for the eighth wicket transformed Vidarbha’s innings after the visitors had slumped to 133 for 7, turning a potentially damaging deficit into a first-innings advantage.
For Jammu and Kashmir, Sunil Kumar and Umar Nazir claimed four wickets apiece in Vidarbha’s first innings, while Umran Malik and Abid Mushtaq picked up one wicket each.
J&K had earlier shown considerable resilience in their opening innings after slipping to 31 for 2 on the first day. Debutant Kawal Preet and captain Paras Dogra steadied the innings through a valuable 111-run partnership. Kawal narrowly missed a maiden century, falling for an impressive 96 off 12 fours, while Dogra contributed 36 from 67 balls. Debutant wicketkeeper Rydham Sharma added a composed 31 to help the hosts reach 260.
Bhute had also made an impact in J&K’s first innings, claiming three wickets, while Yash Thakur and Gurbani picked up two each. Praful Hinge and Harsh Dubey claimed one wicket apiece.
The result highlighted the decisive influence of Vidarbha’s lower-order resilience and Bhute’s match-defining contribution with both bat and ball. Despite the efforts of Sunil Kumar and Umar Nazir, Jammu and Kashmir were unable to capitalise on their bowlers’ performances or defend the modest target.
Vidarbha walked away with six points, while Jammu and Kashmir finished the encounter empty-handed, leaving the hosts to reflect on their second-innings collapse and the missed opportunity to turn a competitive contest into a positive result.
