Synopsis
On the last day of the 2024/25 Ranji Trophy league stage, Jammu & Kashmir achieved a significant victory to secure their place in the quarter-finals, topping Group A. Services also made headlines with a record-breaking run-chase, marking a historic day in the tournament.Key Takeaways
- Jammu & Kashmir qualifies for quarter-finals.
- Secured 182-run victory against Baroda.
- Top of Group A with 36 points.
- Services recorded the second-highest run-chase in Ranji Trophy history.
- Upcoming quarter-final against Kerala in Pune.
New Delhi, Feb 2 (NationPress) On the final day of the 2024/25 Ranji Trophy league stage, Jammu & Kashmir secured their place in the quarter-finals with a commanding 182-run victory over Baroda. This remarkable win also crowned Jammu & Kashmir as the table toppers in Group A, marking a significant milestone.
Starting from 58/2, Baroda struggled to chase down 365 runs and were ultimately bowled out for 182 in 54.5 overs. Off-spinner Sahil Lotra claimed the first four wickets of the day, finishing with impressive figures of 7-75 in 26 overs, while Abid Mushtaq contributed with 3-71, allowing Jammu & Kashmir to conclude the league stage with 36 points.
Jammu & Kashmir achieved five outright wins out of seven matches, including a notable victory over the defending champions Mumbai at the Sharad Pawar MCA Cricket Ground in the Bandra-Kurla Complex, securing their quarter-final spot after a five-year gap.
IANS reports that Jammu & Kashmir will face Kerala in the quarter-finals in Pune from February 8-12, as the winter weather conditions in Jammu necessitated a venue change. The other confirmed quarter-final matches include Vidarbha against Tamil Nadu, Haryana versus Mumbai, and Saurashtra taking on Gujarat.
In a remarkable feat, Services entered the record books by successfully chasing down 376 runs against Odisha at Cuttack without losing a wicket, marking it as the second-highest run-chase in Ranji Trophy history, just behind Railways’ chase of 378 against Tripura in Agartala last year.
Suraj Vashisht remained unbeaten on 154, while Shubham Rohilla scored an impressive 209 not out off 270 balls. Their unbroken 376-run opening partnership is also the second highest in a successful run-chase in first-class cricket history.
Chandigarh triumphed over Chhattisgarh by 54 runs in Raipur, earning six points to finish with 25 points, tying with Tamil Nadu and Saurashtra. However, Chandigarh narrowly missed out on a knockout spot as Saurashtra (three) and Tamil Nadu (two) garnered more bonus points.
Madhya Pradesh took the first-innings lead in a drawn match against Uttar Pradesh in Indore. Similarly, the match between Karnataka and Haryana ended in a draw in Bengaluru, with Haryana already securing their knockout position. Additionally, the game between Maharashtra and Tripura ended in a draw in Solapur, with the hosts claiming the first-innings lead.
