Jammu, Nov 22: Professionalism is buzzword in Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) and the game of cricket is unquestionably on the rise, which can be gauged from the fact that Jammu and Kashmir Senior Men’s team created history on Wednesday by qualifying for the knockout stage for the first time in the prestigious Vijay Hazare Trophy and is also in sight of qualification in the ongoing Men’s U-25 State A Trophy. It may be recalled that J&K U-19 Men’s team qualified for the knockout phase in Vinoo Mankad Trophy this season and Senior Women’s team also made it to the historic knockout stage last season.
The performance of various teams speaks of fairness, transparency and professionalism in the system.
JK cricketers showed that champions never sleep, the eternal spirit keep them alert and awake.
Meanwhile, J&K defeated Uttarakhand in an easy contest at Wankhede Stadium today to make it five wins out of six matches at league stage in Vijay Hazare Trophy to qualify for the knockout stage, while J&K got the better of formidable Vidharbha in a thrilling contest in U-25 State A Trophy by 3 wickets at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium Rajkot.
At Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium Rajkot, put into bat, Vidharbha scored 244/8 in the stipulated 50 overs. A Mokhade top scored with 89 runs off 97 balls, studded with 10 fours and one six, while wicketkeeper/batter Aniket Pande scored unbeaten 51 and YV Rathod contributed 49 runs to the total.
For J&K, promising left-arm spinner Vanshaj Sharma was the pick of the bowlers who took 4 wickets by conceding 38 runs in his 10 overs, while medium pacer Lone Nasir Muzaffar and another left-arm spinner Taizeem Younis Tak bagged 2 wickets each.
In reply, J&K chased the target in a thrilling contest in 49.5 overs by losing 7 wickets to win the match by 3 wickets. Jiyaad Nazir Magrey top scored with 59 runs off 64 balls including 7 fours and 2 sixes, while DikshantKundal and skipper Kanhaiya Wadhawan contributed 45 and 41 runs to the total respectively. Lone Nasir Muzaffar and Kawal Preet Singh also contributed valuable 22 and and unbeaten 20 runs to the total respectively.
For Vidharbha, Aditya Khilote took 4 wickets, while Prerit Agrawal bagged 3 wickets.
The U-25 team is being accompanied by former First Class cricketer Sarabjeet Singh as Head Coach, Hilal Ahmed Zargar and Vivek Khajuria as Manager and Co-Manager respectively, Kavaljeet Singh as as Batting Coach, Sameer Ali as Bowling Coach, Guru Partap Singh as Trainer, Sahil Magotra as Performance/Video Analyst, Dr Chirag Pandya as Physio and Arun as Masseur.
At Wankhede Stadium Mumbai, put into bat, Uttarakhand scored 251 runs in the stipulated 50 overs, losing 6 wickets in the process. PS Khanduri top scored with 97 runs off 125 balls, studded with 9 fours and one six, while Swapnil K Singh contributed 61 off 82 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. D Negi made brisk 52 off 48 balls including 6 boundaries. Auqib Nabi was the pick of the bowlers for J&K, who captured 3 important wickets by conceding 48 runs in his 10 overs, while Yudhvir Singh and Mujtaba Yousuf claimed 2 wickets each.
In reply, J&K rode on a huge opening partnership of 182 runs between Vivrant Sharma and Shubham Khajuria and a spectacular unbeaten century by Vivrant Sharma and chased the target easily in 42.2 overs by losing one wicket to win the match by 9 wickets. Vivrant showed sublimity, brilliance and elegance to score 154* off 124 balls, studded with 18 fours and 6 sixes, surpassing his previous best of 137 runs, while Shubham made superb 71 off 90 balls with 11 fours and one six. Henan Nazir remained unbeaten on 24 runs.
The Senior Men’s team is being accompanied by former International cricketer Ajay Sharma as coach, Rajan Singh and Sandeep Singh as Manager and Co-Manager respectively, Tanmay Srivastava as Fielding Coach, Sunny Kumar as Trainer, Danish Idrees as Performance Analyst, Jatinder Gupta as Physio and Naresh as Masseur.
The Sub Committee Members of JKCA including Brig Anil Gupta, Member-Administration; Advocate Sunil Sethi, Member Legal Affairs and Cricketer MithunManhas, Member Cricket Operations and Development JKCA congratulated the team for this splendid victory.
Majid Dar, Member Cricket Development Kashmir, RoopaliSlathia and Abdul Qayoom, Members Cricket Advisory Committee and Senior Selectors of JKCA also congratulated the team for this big win.
“MensU25StateOD2022. Another nail-biting victory by JKCA. Congratulations for 3rd consecutive victory. On way to making another record. Following the illustrious seniors. Still miles to go. Keep upping the gear with each match. #JKCA. #FlyWithoutWings,” tweeted Brig Gupta.
