Avesh Khan and Aryan Pandey bowl J&K out for 120 as M.P. seize advantage in Ranji Trophy Group A

Madhya Pradesh pacemen Avesh Khan and Aryan Pandey bowled Jammu & Kashmir out for 120 at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium on the second day of their Ranji Trophy Group A match on Monday, giving M.P. a 76-run first-innings lead. M.P. finished the day on 59 for four in their second innings, leading by 135, with Auqib Nabi’s late strikes keeping the hosts competitive.

Overcast conditions favoured the M.P. seamers, with Avesh Khan striking in his first over to remove night-watchman Vanshaj Sharma and set the tone for J&K’s collapse. Operating round the wicket, Avesh (three for 29) and Aryan Pandey (three for 44) kept a disciplined line and length and found regular rewards. The pitch showed no obvious demons, yet senior batsmen Qamran Iqbal and Paras Dogra were unable to assert themselves.

Jammu & Kashmir reached lunch at 88 for five before their slide continued after the break. Abdul Samad, Nasir Lone and Auqib Nabi fell in quick succession as the lower order failed to offer sustained resistance. The innings closed at 120 in 46.3 overs, with Rohit Sharma run out for 0 and Kanhaiya Wadhawan unbeaten on 35.

Paras Dogra, who had been expected to shepherd a recovery with Abdul Samad, was tempted into a cover drive by Avesh and was caught at gully by Yash Dubey. Earlier dismissals included Shubham Khajuria lbw to Avesh for 0 and Shubham Pundir caught by Mantri off Akshay for 20.

From the M.P. dugout, coach Chandrakant Pandit urged discipline and adherence to plans, a message his bowlers executed and which the report says gave him the upper hand in his tactical duel with J&K coach Ajay Sharma. After a quiet first innings, Auqib Nabi struck in the second innings: Qamran took a sharp gully catch to dismiss Harsh Gawli and Nabi had Himanshu Mantri caught at slip by Shubham Pundir within five deliveries. M.P. then slipped to 56 for four after Sunil Kumar took two wickets.

Scorecard details: Madhya Pradesh — 1st innings: 196. Jammu & Kashmir — 1st innings: Qamran Iqbal c Gawli b Aryan 31, Shubham Khajuria lbw b Avesh 0, Vanshaj Sharma lbw b Avesh 1, Shubham Pundir c Mantri b Akshay 20, Paras Dogra c Dubey b Avesh 8, Abdul Samad c&b Ravi Kiran 17, Kanhaiya Wadhawan (not out) 35, Nasir Lone c Gawli b Akshay 1, Aquib Nabi c Sharma b Aryan 2, Sunil Kumar b Aryan 0, Rohit Sharma run out 0; Extras (b-1, lb-4): 5; Total (in 46.3 overs): 120. Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-7, 3-41, 4-62, 5-68, 6-88, 7-89, 8-95, 9-117. M.P. bowling: Ravi Kiran 11-2-23-1, Aryan 13-2-29-3, Avesh 11.3-2-44-3, Akshay 10-4-18-2, Saransh 1-0-1-0. Madhya Pradesh — 2nd innings: Harsh Gawli c Iqbal b Nabi 11, Yash Dubey c Wadhawan b Sunil 22, Himanshu Mantri c Pundir b Nabi 0, Shubham Sharma (batting) 15, Chanchal Rathore c Samad b Sunil 8, Aryan Pandey (batting) 0; Extras (lb-1, nb-2): 3; Total (for 4 wkts. in 27 overs) 59. Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-30, 3-40, 4-56. J&K bowling: Nabi 8-2-19-2, Sunil 10-3-14-2, Rohit 8-2-24-0, Vanshaj 1-0-1-0.

M.P. remain in command with Shubham Sharma at the crease, while J&K will need early wickets in the next session to regain momentum in the Group A contest.