Jammu and Kashmir Script History! Auqib Nabi's 9-Fer Stamps 1st-Ever Ranji Trophy Final

Auqib Nabi celebrating with the team [Source: X]Jammu and Kashmir created history on Wednesday by reaching their first-ever Ranji Trophy final, defeating two-time champions Bengal by six wickets in the second semi-final at the Bengal Cricket Academy ground. Auqib Nabi's sensational all-round display, a match haul of nine wickets and a crucial 42, earned him the Player of the Match award and stole the spotlight in the nail-biting affair. Jammu and Kashmir, electing to field after winning the toss, made the most of helpful conditions throughout the four-day encounter, outbowling and outbattling a star-studded Bengal side featuring Mohammed Shami. Day 1 Lit Up As Sudip Gharami Anchors Bengal Amid Auqib Nabi's StrikesBengal's innings got off to a shaky start when Sudip Chatterjee fell for a duck. Captain Abhimanyu Easwaran (49) and Sudip Kumar Gharami steadied the ship with a solid partnership, but Auqib Nabi struck twice in quick succession, removing Easwaran and Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal (0) to reduce Bengal to 89/3. Gharami, unfazed, forged useful stands, reaching his century and guiding Bengal to recovery. Partnerships with Anustup Majumdar and Shahbaz Ahmed (42) took Bengal past 200. At stumps, Bengal were comfortably placed at 249/5, with Gharami unbeaten on 136. Day 2 Sees Mohammed Shami's 8-For Keeping Bengal Ahead Resuming on Day 2, Gharami added just 10 more runs before falling to Sunil Kumar for a magnificent 146, the backbone of Bengal's 328. Auqib Nabi completed his five-wicket haul (5/87) by dismissing Akash Deep and Shami. Jammu and Kashmir's response was disastrous initially, slumping to 13/3 against a rampant Shami. Paras Dogra (58) and Abdul Samad (82 off 85 balls, 12 fours) launched a stunning counter-attack, adding 143 for the fourth wicket. Despite Shami ripping through the lineup for career-best domestic figures of 8/90, lower-order resistance, led by Nabi's counter-attacking 42 and Yudhvir Singh's 33, lifted J&K to 302, trailing by only 26. Day 3 Had Pacers Dominate as 17 Wickets Tumble Jammu and Kashmir added valuable runs in the morning of Day 3, with Nabi and Yudhvir adding a fighting 64-run stand before Shami wrapped up the innings. Bengal's second innings then collapsed spectacularly. Nabi and Sunil Kumar ran riot, sharing eight wickets as Bengal were bundled out for 99 in just 25.1 overs. Auqib Nabi claimed 4/36, while Kumar matched him with 4/27. Chasing 126, J&K lost openers cheaply to Akash Deep but reached 43/2 by stumps, needing 83 more with eight wickets in hand. Jammu and Kashmir Emerge As Winners On Day 4 Resuming on the final morning, Shubham Pundir (27) and Vanshaj Sharma batted sensibly before Pundir fell to Shami and Paras Dogra (9) to Akash Deep, leaving J&K at 71/4. Nerves were tested, but Vanshaj Sharma (43*) and Abdul Samad combined in an unbroken 55-run fifth-wicket stand to guide J&K home in 34.4 overs. Sharma fittingly sealed the victory with a six. This triumph marks Jammu & Kashmir's maiden Ranji Trophy final appearance, a monumental achievement for a team that has often battled adversity. Auqib Nabi's 9-wicket haul, Abdul Samad's explosiveness, and the collective bowling effort overwhelmed Bengal, who despite Sudip Gharami's heroics and Mohammed Shami's brilliance, crumbled at crucial moments. Jammu and Kashmir cricket team now await the winners of Karnataka vs Uttarakhand in the final, starting February 24.