SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir cricket team’s horror run in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy North Zone ended with yet another defeat making it five losses out of five games for Ian Dev Singh led side. Although there was some competitive cricket played in their last game of the tournament, but result didn’t change with team crashing out of the tourney without getting off the mark.
It was Haryana’s turn to inflict defeat on a timid J&K side beating them by three wickets in a close fought game with result coming off the last ball played at Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium, Rohtak.
Thanks to debutant Syed Sagar’s belligerent 74 and a solid fifty from Bandeep Singh, J&K were able to post their first substantial score of 167 in their allotted 20 overs, but Haryana weren’t fazed scaling down the target of 168 off last ball.
Having been put to bat, J&K had a horrendous start to the proceedings reeling at 40 for 7 inside ten over before Bandeep and Sagar engaged in a terrific stand that was laced with some breathtaking strokeplay.
Playing in his first game for the state, Sagar didn’t show any nerves slamming five sixes and seven fours in his 36-ball 74. Bandeep was happy playing second fiddle in a long partnership of 109 hitting three sixes and five fours in his knock of 52 that came off 36 balls.
Chasing a big target, Haryana were in dire straits with scoreboard giving a sorry reading of 62 for 5 in the tenth hour. It appeared J&K could well get their first win in the tourney but former Indian all-rounder Joginder Sharma had other ideas matching Sagar’s innings shot by shot as he dispatched five maximums and seven fours in his undefeated 35-ball 75 to take his side to a thrilling victory.
BRIEF SCORES: J&K 167/9 Syed Sagar 74, Bandeep Singh 52 lost to Haryana 168/7 Joginder Sharma 75