Srinagar, March 03: Fluidity, skill and grace were on display as J&K’s young opening batsman Qamran Iqbal once again showed glimpses of his bright future, slamming power-packed half-century to guide Jammu and Kashmir to 259 runs in their first innings as Railways wrist spinner Karn Sharma spun web around J&K batters in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group-C match at IIT Chemplast, Chennai.
Earlier, J&K skipper Ian Dev Singh Chauhan won the toss and decided to bat first on seemingly a batting-supportive strip. The opening pair of Qamran Iqbal and Suryansh Raina began in style and hit a series of boundaries and sixes to make an opening wicket partnership of 88 runs in 21.1 overs, before Suryansh was dismissed at his individual score of 28 runs off 69 balls with 6 boundaries.
Apart from Qamran’s brilliance, brief but valuable contributions from Auqib Nabi, Henan Nazir and Abdul Samad helped the team to reach 259 runs in 87.1 overs. Qamran Iqbal made 83 runs off 98 balls, studded with 11 fours and 2 massive sixes, while otherwise aggressive Auqib Nabi curbed his explosive instincts and scored patient 44 runs off 130 balls, including 5 fours and a six. Henan Nazir also applied to almost a perfection and scored sedate 34 runs off 97 balls, while talented Abdul Samad clobbered 3 sixes and 2 fours to score brisk 28 runs off just 15 balls.
For Railways, right-arm leg-break bowler Karn Sharma was the wrecker-in-chief as he spun web around J&K batsmen and captured 6 wickets by conceding 76 runs in 29 overs, while left-arm spinner Akash Pandey took 2 wickets by giving away 42 runs in 19 overs. Medium pacers-Amit Mishra and Yuvraj claimed one wicket each.
In reply, Railways were zero for no loss at stumps on day-one. Off-spinner Parvez Rasool bowled the only over for J&K.