Kashmir bt Services by 54-runs in curtailed Ranji match

Patiala, Feb 16 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir today registered a 54-run victory over Services in the Ranji Trophy one-day match played at Dhruv Pandove Cricket Stadium here.

The match started late in the afternoon and was curtailed to 20-over a side due to waterlogged conditions of the ground.

The J and K captain won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket that had a bit of grass and managed a healthy total of 147 for 8 in the stipulated overs.

Solid knocks by Arshad Bhatt and Dhruv Mahajan, who scored 41 and 51 runs respectively, facing 33 deliveries each, gave the J and K team a good lead.

For the Services side, Yashpal Singh with 3, Pankaj KR and Narinder KR with 2 each were the main wicket takers but could not do much to stop the J and K batsmen from scoring.

The lanky Kashmiri medium pacer Abid Nabi made the most of the wet conditions for the his side and went on to claim three Services wickets on the trot.

Dismissing one batsman after the other for noughts against their names, Abid was instrumental in bagging a run out off his own bowling. At one point of time the Services innings were in a shambles with 5 wickets down for 11 runs on board.

Imran Khan and Fazil Mohammed were the two batsmen who fought hard for Services and scored 31 and 20 runs respectively, besides a 26-ball 22 runs by Sarabjit Singh.

However, the total team was bundled out for 93 runs in 16.1 overs.

The next match, to be played between Delhi and Haryana on Sunday would be crucial, given the defeat Delhi received at the hands of Punjab.

UNI