Ranji Match against JK: Murasing claims five-fier, Tripura gain 160 run lead in 2nd innings
After an intense day of play in the Ranji Trophy at Jammu's Hostel Ground, Tripura find itself under pressure, clinging to a slender lead with just three wickets in hand. The second day ended with Tripura at 170 for 7 in their second innings, holding a lead of only 160 runs over the home team, Jammu & Kashmir. A challenging third day awaits, as Tripura aims to add more runs to the scoreboard to avoid what could be their first defeat of the season.
The day began with Tripura hoping to build on their modest first-innings score of 165 and impose pressure on Jammu & Kashmir with tight bowling. Tripura's pace spearhead, Manishankar Murasing, delivered an exceptional performance, claiming 5 wickets for 68 runs and helping to restrict the hosts to 175 in 57.4 overs. Alongside Murasing’s disciplined bowling, Abhijit Sarkar picked up 3 wickets for 42 runs, while Rana Dutta chipped in 2 wickets for 54. Despite the sharp bowling attack, the hosts took a crucial 10-run lead, thanks in part to a late-game partnership by Abid Mushtaq and Yashbir Singh.
The Jammu & Kashmir lower order displayed grit, with Abid Mushtaq scoring 30 off 52 balls, hitting four boundaries and a six, and Yashbir Singh adding 21 runs from 20 balls, supported by one boundary and a six. This duo weathered a fierce attack from Tripura’s bowlers, extending their score and ensuring a crucial 1st innings lead for the home side. Though it seemed unlikely at one point, this partnership granted Jammu & Kashmir a slender yet psychologically significant lead, placing Tripura on the back foot as they returned to bat.
Trailing by 10 runs at the start of their second innings, Tripura’s top order struggled to regain control. The team quickly found itself under duress as key batsmen like Bikram Kumar Das (11), Tejasvi Jaiswal (4), and Sreedam Pal (7) fell early. Captain Mandeep Singh’s quick departure for just 3 runs only added to Tripura’s woes.
By the time the middle order entered the fray, the team was already in a precarious position.
Attempting to stabilize the innings, Manishankar Murasing and Jiwanjyot Singh put up a resilient partnership that added much-needed runs. Jiwanjyot, showing determination and precision, struck 45 runs off 59 balls, marked by seven boundaries. Murasing followed suit with a brisk 32 off 41 balls, adding four boundaries and a six. This partnership offered a glimmer of hope to the visitors, but further breakthroughs by Jammu & Kashmir’s bowlers soon dashed those hopes.
Wicketkeeper-batsman L. Sarath managed to hold his ground until the end of the day’s play, contributing an unbeaten 39 off 57 balls, including four boundaries, to keep Tripura in the game. Despite Sarath’s steadying presence, Tripura’s tail-enders face a challenging task as they head into day three with just three wickets remaining.
Jammu & Kashmir’s bowlers, led by Aqib Nabi who took 3 wickets for 35 runs, were relentless in their approach. Abid Mushtaq added two wickets for 22 runs, while Yashbir Singh captured another two for 37, effectively putting Tripura’s lineup to the test.
As Tripura lead by only 160 runs, the team’s lower-order batsmen must exhibit patience and resilience on the third day if they are to extend the lead and bring the match under control, opined the cricket lovers of the State. According to them, Tripura’s chances hinge on whether the remaining batsmen can withstand Jammu & Kashmir's bowling attack and add at least another 100 runs, giving their bowlers something substantial to defend.
“The third day will be decisive. If Tripura’s batsmen falter early, the team risks falling to a season-first defeat. With Manishankar Murasing’s outstanding bowling performance and Jiwanjyot’s fighting innings, Tripura had several promising moments. However, the collective responsibility now lies on the shoulders of the remaining batsmen to navigate the crucial overs ahead followed by fierce bowling performance by the State bowlers”, one former Ranji player said.
(Tripura, Northeast)
You can share this post!
Recent News
