J&K makes it to Ranji Trophy quarters for first time

Jammu and Kashmir cricket team today created history by reaching the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals for the first time after their Group C encounter against Tripura ended in a draw here today.
The J&K team entered the last eight stage by virtue of their first innings lead, which earned them three crucial points. They ended tied on 28 points with Goa but qualified on the basis of their marginally better points quotient.
J&K had a quotient of 1.006 as against Goa's 1.005 after the valley team ended the fourth and final day at 87 for two in a chase of 228.

In the 2001-01 season, which was held under a different format, the J&K team had qualified for the knockout stage but at that time they had reached the pre-quarterfinals, losing to Odisha by a massive 420-run margin.
J&K will now square off against Punjab at Baroda from January 8.
It was a remarkable achievement for the J&K team considering that many formidable sides such as seven-time champions Delhi, two-time winners Rajasthan, last year's finalists Saurashtra and Gujarat failed to make it to the knockout stage.

The hosts began the day at a solid 103 for two but were all out for 272 as spinner Perveez Rasool claimed seven wickets at the expense of 87 runs.

Tripura's overnight batsmen Abhijit Dey (63), Kaushal Acharjee (35) began cautiously and had extended their partnership to 78 runs but Rasool dismissed both in a gap of four overs.
After that skipper Yogesh Takawale (28) and Manisankar Murasingh (37) resisted the J&K attack for some time but eventually they were bundled out for 272 runs on the board.
The visitors then lost Adil Rishi (1) and Ian Dev Singh (9) cheaply but Bandeep Singh (37) and Perveez Rasool (35) batted well after that and easily drew the game.
Brief Scores:
Tripura 280 and 272 in 103.5 overs.(Abhijit Dey 63, Kaushik Acharjee 35; Perveez Rasool 7/87).

Jammu and Kashmir: 325 and 87 for 2 in 25 overs.(Perveez Rasool 37 not out, Bandeep Singh 37; Manisankar Murasingh 1/12).