Srinagar: Wicketkeeper batter Fazil Rashid’s fighting knock of 60 runs went in vain as J&K suffered is third consecutive defeat in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournament on Thursday.
In the match Haryana outplayed J&K by 72 runs to register their first win. Batting first Haryana got off to terrible start with Yudhvir Singh giving J&K early breakthrough. Haryana lost first wicket on the score of 3 runs. After that Umran Malik gave J&K second wicket with Haryana inning on 32. Thereafter there was small stand for the third wicket but that was broken by Abid Mushtaq with Haryana score on 77. However, after that it was Haryana all the way with A Kumar and R Sharma forming unbroken stand to taje Haryana total to 178 for 3 in 20 overs. Kumar remained not out on 89 from 63 while as R Sharma scored 47 from 28 not out.
In reply, J&K got all out fot 107 run total in 17.3 overs. Fazil Rashid promoted up the order played lonely fighting knock, scoring 60 from 49. Abid Mushtaq with 5 was only other notable scorer in the inning with none of the J&K batter able to reach double figures.
For Haryana, H Patel, A Kamboj took three wickets each while as N Sindhu took two.
It is third straight defeat for the sorry looking J&K Cricket team in the season opener tournament. While we blame players, but one needs to question JKCA as well for its process, tactics, selection process and staff appointed for the side.