J&K State cricket team finished their tour of Andhra Pradesh winless after suffering three-wicket defeat in last league match of the ACA Sir Vizzy Trophy tournament against ACA Presidents at Academy Cricket Ground, Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh on Monday.
Despite posting a decent total of 290 runs on board, J&K ended on losing side owing to some bad decisions made by its young skipper. J&K had upper hand in close run chase with ACA side seven wickets down. However, J&K skipper opted to bowl himself and other experiment in shape of Shubham Khajuria. The decision back fired as both the bowlers leaked plenty of runs and J&K lost match by three wickets. ACA achieved target in 48.2 overs for the loss of seven wickets.
Earlier, J&K team management knowing it is their last match of tour, made some tough decisions. They rested some out of form senior players and brought in youngsters who were impressive in training and practice matches back home. The Under-19 pacer Rasik Salaam, Under-23 all-rounder Aquib Nabi and Under-23 wicket-keeper-batsman Fazil Rashid were given senior team debuts.
Batting first, J&K openers Ahmad Banday and Shubham Khajuria gave J&K excellent start by putting up 157 run stand for the opening wicket. Shubham Khajuria got out after scoring 81 run knock. Ahmad Banday made 90 runs before getting out. At the end of J&K inning, debutant Fazil Rashid played unbeaten knock of 57 runs from 47 balls. J&K scored 290 runs for the loss of four wickets in allotted 50 overs.
In reply, ACA Presidents side also got excellent start with openers putting up partnership of 150 runs for the first wicket. Debutant Rasik Salam gave J&K first breakthrough, getting K Ashwin caught behind for the score of 82. After that J&K kept on taking wickets at regular intervals. Rasik Salam took two more wickets including that of D B Prasanth who scored 95. Aquib Nabi took two wickets while as Waseem Raza and Rohit Sharma took one wicket each.
With ACA Presidents needing 49 runs from 36 balls to win with only three wickets in hand, J&K skipper Shubham Pundir instead of going for his premier bowlers, Rohit, Rasik and Aquib who all had two overs left, opted to go for part timers. He went for himself, Paras and Shubham Khajuria. The decision backfired as Siva Charan and D Naren carried ACA side home with 10 balls in spare. Siva remained unbeaten on 35 while as Naren remained not out on 34.
J&K will return back to Srinagar before the team for the Vijay Hazare 50-over tournament would be announced. The Irfan Pathan lead team management tested some youngsters in its last outing in Andhra Pradesh. All the three rookies performed well and it must give management headache while selecting team for the Vijay Hazare trophy.
SCORE
J&K: 290/4 (50 overs) (Banday 90, Khajuria 81, Fazil 57*)
ACA: 291/7 (48.2 overs) (Prasanth 95, Ashwin 82, Rasik 3-wkts)
Courtesy : https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/sports/aca-sir-vizzy-trophy-without-win-j-k-finishes-andhra-tour/295241.html
