Lone Nasir’s Maiden First-Class Fifty, Paras Dogra’s 75 Put J&K in Command After Day Two
Srinagar, October 2, 2026 (JK Patrika Sports Desk): Jammu and Kashmir secured a crucial 41-run first-innings lead over Rest of India on Day Two of the Irani Cup at the Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium in Srinagar, with a determined lower-order effort rescuing the hosts from a precarious position.
Resuming their first innings at 21 for 2, J&K were soon reduced to 37 for 4 as Rest of India pacer Mukesh Choudhary struck twice. Shubham Khajuria was dismissed for 4 before Qamran Iqbal fell for 24.
Captain Paras Dogra and Abdul Samad then produced a vital 101-run partnership for the fifth wicket to revive the J&K innings. Samad contributed a valuable 57, while Dogra anchored the innings with a composed 75 off 143 deliveries.
J&K subsequently slipped from 138 for 4 to 166 for 8, leaving Rest of India in a strong position to secure a first-innings advantage. However, Lone Nasir Muzaffar produced the decisive counterattack, scoring a maiden first-class half-century from No. 10.
Nasir smashed 64 off 58 balls, including a six and a four, and shared a crucial partnership with Dogra before adding another important stand with Sunil Kumar. His contribution helped J&K reach 278 all out, giving the hosts a 41-run first-innings lead over Rest of India’s 237.
For Rest of India, Mukesh Choudhary was the standout bowler with 5 for 78, while Akash Deep claimed three wickets. Despite their strong bowling effort, J&K’s lower-order resistance denied the visitors a first-innings lead.
Rest of India began their second innings late in the day and finished on 24 for 1 after 15 overs, still 17 runs behind J&K. Shikhar Mohan, who had scored 60 in the first innings, was dismissed for 2 by Sunil Kumar, while Sanat Sangwan and Sudip Kumar Gharami remained unbeaten on 10 each at stumps.
The first-innings advantage could prove significant in the Irani Cup, where a drawn match is decided in favour of the team holding the first-innings lead. J&K, the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy champions, therefore enter Day Three with an important advantage in their first-ever Irani Cup appearance.
The Irani Cup match is being played for the first time in Kashmir at the Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium, Srinagar, with J&K taking on a Rest of India side led by Rishabh Pant.
Brief Scores
Rest of India: 237 all out
Jammu & Kashmir: 278 all out — lead by 41 runs
Rest of India 2nd innings: 24/1 at stumps, trail by 17 runs
