India notebook - Jammu-Kashmir qualifies for second stage in cricket

Jammu and Kashmir, which generally makes front page news, figured prominently on the sports pages when its cricket team made history of sorts by qualifying for the second stage of the Ranji Trophy championship from the North Zone league.

The team scored shock victories over Services, Himachal Pradesh and former champions Haryana to become the third team from the zone to enter the all-India phase. To a great extent the triumph over Haryana was marked by a splendid batting performance from skipper Ajay Jadeja, who had signed as a professional for the State last year. He could not play any match last year due to his preoccupation with the Indian team and J&K was knocked out in the preliminary stage itself.

This year Jadeja, though under cloud, played the first match against Haryana, his former team, and scored a century to lead J&K to a major upset. It may be recalled Jadeja had quit Haryana after having sided with Kapil Dev in his battle to oust Ranbir Singh and company, the men who control cricket in the State.

Buoyed by the victory J&K, without the services of Jadeja, who could not play due to CBI's verdict, went on to defeat Services before staging a remarkable recovery to defeat Himachal Pradesh.

After conceding a lead of 170 J&K came back strongly in the second, taking six wickets for 110. Perhaps reading too much into the wicket Himachal declared, leaving J&K with a target of 251 in 77 overs. Thanks to a brilliant 138 (14x4, 6x4) by Ranjit Bali, J&K reached the target with 13 overs to spare and four wickets in hand.

The other heroes for J&K were medium pacer Abdul Qayoom, who took nine wickets against Haryana, nine against the Services and five against Himachal, and Kanwaljit Singh, who hit a 100 against Delhi and 93 against Haryana.