Tripura put up a spirited fight but succumbed to a narrow defeat against Jammu & Kashmir in their Ranji Trophy encounter on Friday. A remarkable unbeaten 92-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Vibhrant Sharma and Abid Mustafa turned the tide, securing a four-wicket victory for the hosts in a thrilling finish.
Murasing achieved a milestone by becoming the first Tripura cricketer to secure over 300 wickets in Ranji tournament.
The match, played at Jammu & Kashmir’s home ground, saw Tripura post a modest 165 in their first innings. In response, Jammu & Kashmir managed a slim lead by scoring 175. Despite a 10-run deficit, Tripura fought back with a determined second innings performance, scoring 211 and setting a challenging target of 202. However, the hosts chased it down, losing six wickets along the way. Akib Nabi’s outstanding all-round performance earned him the Player of the Match award.
This defeat marks a significant setback for Tripura in the tournament. They now prepare to face Services in their sixth match, scheduled from January 23 to 26 at the MBB Stadium.
Resuming their second innings at 170/7 on Day 2, Tripura added 41 crucial runs to push their total to 211 today. Wicket-keeper S. Sarath was instrumental, scoring a vital 61 off 134 balls, including five boundaries.
His efforts ensured the team breached the 200-run mark. Abhijith Chakraborty chipped in with a valuable 13 off 27 balls, hitting two boundaries.
For Jammu & Kashmir, Akib Nabi led the bowling attack, claiming 4/54. Yudhvir Singh (3/39) and Abid Mustafa (3/41) supported effectively, dismantling Tripura in 67 overs.
Chasing 202, Jammu & Kashmir found themselves under pressure early on as Tripura’s bowlers struck key blows. Shubham Khajuria (25 off 23, six boundaries) and Abdul Samad (35 off 61, including a six and four boundaries) provided some stability, but the hosts were reeling at 112/6 at one stage.
It was then that Vibhrant Sharma and Abid Mustafa took control, exhibiting immense composure. Sharma remained unbeaten on 60, while Mustafa contributed a steady 53, guiding Jammu & Kashmir to victory without further damage.
For Tripura, Parvez Sultan (2/39) and Manisankar Murasing (2/54) were the pick of the bowlers. Despite the team’s loss, Murasing reached a remarkable personal milestone, becoming the first Tripura cricketer to claim 301 wickets in 92 Ranji Trophy matches.
(Tripura, Northeast)