SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir recovered from 37 for four to post 278 all out and secure a 41-run first-innings lead over Rest of India on the second day of the Irani Cup at Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium on Friday.
Rest of India, who were dismissed for 237 on the opening day, reached 24 for one in their second innings by stumps, leaving them 17 runs behind J&K with four days of the match remaining.
J&K resumed the day on 21 for two but suffered two further setbacks in the morning session to slip to 37 for four. Captain Paras Dogra and Abdul Samad then steadied the innings with a 101-run partnership.
The hosts went into the tea interval at 70 for four after 22 overs, with Dogra and Samad rebuilding the innings following the dismissals of Shubham Khajuria for four and Qamran Iqbal for 24.
J&K continued to add runs after tea and eventually crossed Rest of India’s first-innings total. Lone Nasir Muzaffar provided a late boost with 64 off 58 balls.
Mukesh Choudhary was Rest of India’s most successful bowler, finishing with five wickets as J&K lost wickets at regular intervals but still secured the lead.
Rest of India’s second innings began with the dismissal of Shikhar Mohan for two. Sudip Kumar Gharami and Sanat Sangwan were unbeaten on 10 each at the close, with the visitors facing a 17-run deficit.
In their first innings, Rest of India had been bowled out for 237, with Smaran Ravichandran making 68, Shikhar Mohan scoring 60 and Sarfaraz Khan contributing 45. For J&K, Sunil Kumar and Lone Nasir Muzaffar took three wickets each, while Umar Nazir Mir claimed two.
The Irani Cup is being played from October 1 to 5 at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar, with 2025-26 Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir facing Rest of India. This is the first time the historic fixture is being hosted in the Kashmir Valley.
