Jammu and Kashmir bowlers wreaked havoc in the second inningsImage Credit source: PTI

The Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season is heading towards a historic end. The current season of this biggest domestic tournament of Indian cricket had already seen history in the making. Now something is going to happen which has never happened before. Jammu and Kashmir (JK), playing the semi-finals of Ranji Trophy for the first time, has come very close to the first final. On the third day of the semi-final match against Bengal, once again due to the excellent bowling of Aaqib Nabi, JK got bundled out for just 99 runs in the second innings. In this way he got the target of only 124 runs to win.

The third day of the match on Tuesday 17 February in Kalyani, West Bengal was full of ups and downs for Bengal. Especially the team's legendary Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami This proved to be bittersweet for him. On one hand, Shami gave the best performance of his first class career and gave his team a significant lead of 26 runs by taking a record 8 wickets in JK's first innings. But his hard work was completely ruined by the Bengal batsmen in the second innings.

Bengal collapses in front of Aaqib

After taking the lead in the first innings, Bengal was expected to score a good score in the second innings so that it could register a win or draw the match and make it to the finals. But fast bowler Aaqib Nabi, who bowled the best in the entire season, once again wreaked havoc. Nabi, who took 5 wickets in the first innings, did the same feat in the second innings and while taking 4 wickets of Bengal, the entire team was bundled out for 99 runs in just 25 overs. Sunil Kumar once again supported Nabi well. After taking 3 wickets in the first innings, this time he was successful in taking 4 wickets.

JK close to historic win

Due to being bundled out on such a small score, the Bengal team could not set a big target. Jammu and Kashmir got the target of only 126 runs to win in the second innings. However, in reply, this team also did not have a good start and lost two wickets for only 12 runs. Akash Deep got both the wickets. But experienced batsman Shubham Pundir again took charge of the innings and by the end of the day's play, the team had reached 43 runs. Now on the fourth day, Jammu and Kashmir will have the challenge of scoring the remaining 83 runs. Now whether Shami will be able to save his team once again or not, the picture will become clear on Wednesday 18th February.