J&K Take 41-Run Lead as Mukesh Choudhary Claims Five-For
Mukesh Choudhary's five-wicket haul keeps Rest of India in the hunt as Jammu and Kashmir secures a first-innings lead at Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium.
Jammu and Kashmir asserted their dominance on the second day of the Irani Cup, securing a 41-run first-innings lead at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium. Despite a fierce bowling spell from Mukesh Choudhary, the hosts managed to overhaul Rest of India's opening total to enter the second innings with a crucial advantage.
J&K Recover From Early Wobble
The hosts faced an uphill battle after resuming their innings at a precarious 21/2. However, a series of resilient performances turned the tide in their favor. Skipper Paras Dogra anchored the innings with a composed 75, providing the necessary stability to the middle order. He was ably supported by Abdul Samad, who contributed 57, and Lone Nasir Muzaffar, whose counter-attacking 64 from the lower order proved to be the decisive factor in J&K's recovery.
This collective effort allowed Jammu and Kashmir to reach a total of 278, surpassing Rest of India's first-innings score of 237.
Mukesh Choudhary Shines for Rest of India
While the J&K batters fought hard, the Rest of India bowling attack was kept alive by Mukesh Choudhary. Choudhary delivered a standout performance, claiming 5/78 and ensuring the contest remained competitive. His early breakthroughs—removing Shubham Khajuria and Qamran Iqbal—and the subsequent dismissal of skipper Paras Dogra, kept the visitors within striking distance.
Mukesh Kumar also contributed to the bowling effort, picking up two wickets to keep the pressure on the home side.
Rest of India Begin Second Innings
Rest of India's second innings commenced late on Friday, with the team trailing J&K by 17 runs at the close of play. The visitors suffered an early setback when Shikhar Mohan was dismissed for two, but they managed to reach 24/1 by stumps.
As the match moves into Day 3, the focus shifts to the J&K batting lineup. The visitors will be desperate to dismantle the remaining wickets quickly to build a substantial lead and shift the momentum back in their favor.