Jammu and Kashmir notched a resounding 182-run win over Baroda to storm into Ranji Trophy quarterfinals on January 2, Sunday. The underdog's dominant win over Baroda propelled them to the top of their group, underscoring their strong performance in the domestic tournament. After setting a challenging target of 365 runs, Jammu and Kashmir's bowler Sahil Lotra delivered a career-best performance, taking 7 wickets for 75 runs. Lotra's exceptional bowling was instrumental in dismantling Baroda's batting lineup, ultimately dismissing them for 182 runs in 54.5 overs. Lotra also bagged four wickets in the first innings.
Jammu & Kashmir enter Ranji Trophy quarterfinal
Lotra received valuable support from left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq, who contributed 3 wickets for 71 runs. Mushtaq also claimed the final wicket, dismissing Baroda's number 11 batsman, Akash Singh, to seal the historic win for Jammu and Kashmir. Baroda, who had struggled in their first innings with only 166 runs, began their second innings at 58 for two. However, they were unable to withstand Jammu and Kashmir's formidable bowling attack and could not mount a sufficient resistance.
In other match, Maharashtra and Tripura played to a draw. Tripura reached a score of 310 for five in their second innings on the final day, at which point both captains agreed to end the match. Due to their first-innings lead, Maharashtra earned three points, while Tripura secured one point.
With the league stage now complete, Jammu & Kashmir, Vidarbha, Haryana, and Saurashtra have emerged as the top teams from their respective groups. Mumbai, Gujarat, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu have also qualified for the quarterfinals, securing their spots as the second-placed teams in their groups.
The top-ranked teams from each group were awarded home advantage for the quarterfinal matches. However, despite finishing at the top of Group A, Jammu & Kashmir will play their quarterfinal match in Pune. This decision was made due to unfavorable weather conditions in Jammu and Kashmir, making it impossible to host the game there.
Vidarbha displayed exceptional consistency throughout the Ranji Trophy league stage, ultimately emerging as the most dominant team. They accumulated an impressive 40 points, winning six out of their seven matches in Group B. Several other teams also showcased strong performances during the league stage. Haryana, Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, and Gujarat all managed to remain unbeaten. Jammu & Kashmir secured 36 points with five outright victories in their seven games, while Gujarat earned 32 points, achieving four outright wins in the same number of matches.