In the T20 World Cup 2026 match against the Netherlands, Team India emerged victorious by 17 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Having put to chase a target of 193 runs, the Netherlands managed to score 176 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs. Opening batsman Michael Levitt managed to score 24 runs in 23 balls, including four boundaries. Fellow opening batsman Max O'Dowd amassed 20 runs off 18 balls, with the help of two boundaries and a maximum. Bas de Leede garnered 33 runs after facing 23 balls, and also smashed three boundaries and a maximum. Colin Ackermann registered 23 runs in 15 balls, with the help of a boundary and two maximums. Aryan Dutt was dismissed on a one-ball duck. Skipper Scott Edwards returned to the pavilion on 15 runs in 10 balls, including two boundaries. Facing 16 balls, Zach Lion-Cachet scored 26 runs, with the help of a boundary and a maximum. Noah Croes and Logan van Beek stayed unbeaten on 25 and four runs, respectively. Facing 12 balls, Croes smashed five boundaries, and van Beek's knock of two balls included a boundary. Team India's Varun Chakaravarthy claimed three wickets for 14 runs in three overs. Shivam Dube also bagged two wickets. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya chipped in with one wicket each. Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar, and Abhishek Sharma went wicketless in the T20 World Cup 2026 match against the Netherlands. Earlier, having opted to bat first, Team India's swashbuckling opening batsman Abhishek Sharma continued his poor run in the global showpiece, as he was dismissed on a three-ball duck. This also marked his third duck in the ongoing tournament. Fellow opening batsman Ishan Kishan scored 18 runs in seven balls, including two boundaries and a maximum. Tilak Varma accumulated 31 runs off 27 deliveries, with the help of three boundaries and a maximum. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav returned to the pavilion after scoring 34 runs in 28 balls, including two boundaries and a maximum. Shivam Dube delivered a blistering knock of 66 runs off just 31 deliveries, which was laced with four boundaries and six maximums. Hardik Pandya also garnered 30 runs in 21 balls, with the help of three maximums. Rinku Singh stayed unbeaten on six runs, which came in three balls, including a maximum. With this, the "Men in Blue" posted a total of 193 runs for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs. The Netherlands' Logan van Beek registered three wickets by leaking 56 runs in four overs. Aryan Dutt returned with the figures of two wickets for 19 runs in four overs. Kyle Klein also bagged one wicket. Colin Ackermann, Bas de Leede, and Roelof van der Merwe went wicketless in the T20 World Cup 2026 match against Team India.
18 February,2026 11:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the T20 World Cup 2026 match against Namibia, Pakistan emerged victorious by 102 runs at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Sri Lanka. In an attempt to chase a target of 200 runs, Namibia was bowled out for 97 runs in 17.3 overs. Opening batsman Louren Steenkamp was dismissed for 23 runs in 22 balls. His knock also included three boundaries and a maximum. Fellow opening batsman Jan Frylinck departed on nine runs in 11 balls, including a boundary. Nicol Loftie-Eaton managed to score five runs in five balls, with the help of a boundary. Skipper Gerhard Erasmus returned to the pavilion after scoring seven runs in six balls, including a boundary. Alexander Busing-Volschenk accumulated 20 runs off 20 deliveries, and also smashed a boundary and a maximum. JJ Smit's innings ended with nine runs in 13 balls. Wicketkeeper-batsman Zane Green scored seven runs in nine balls. Ruben Trumpelmann was dismissed on a two-ball duck. Willem Pieter Myburgh scored eight runs in 14 balls. Bernard Scholtz faced two balls and was dismissed on one run. Jack Brassell stayed unbeaten on one run in one ball. Pakistan's Usman Tariq returned with the figures of four wickets for 16 runs in 3.3 overs. Shadab Khan also bagged three wickets for 19 runs in four overs. Salman Mirza and Mohammad Nawaz claimed one wicket each. Faheem Ashraf and Saim Ayub went wicketless in the T20 World Cup 2026 match against Namibia. T20 World Cup 2026: Pakistan's innings against Namibia Earlier, having opted to bat first, Pakistan's opening batsman Sahibzada Farhan scored an unbeaten 100 runs, which came in just 58 deliveries, with the help of 11 boundaries and four maximums. Fellow opening batsman Saim Ayub accumulated 14 runs in 12 balls, including two boundaries. Skipper Salman Ali Agha played a knock of 38 runs off 23 balls, which was laced with three boundaries and two maximums. Khawaja Nafay was dismissed for five runs in five balls, including a boundary. Shadab Khan also delivered an unbeaten knock of 36 runs. His knock of 22 balls, including a boundary and three maximums. With this, the "Green Shirts" posted a total of 199 runs for the loss of three wickets in 20 overs. Netherlands' Jack Brassell returned with the figures of two wickets for 48 runs in four overs. Skipper Gerhard Erasmus also picked up one wicket by conceding 25 runs in three overs. JJ Smit, Ruben Trumpelmann, Willem Pieter Myburgh, and Bernard Scholtz went wicketless in the T20 World Cup 2026 match against Pakistan.
18 February,2026 08:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSri Lanka is set to conclude its T20 World Cup 2026 group stage matches by playing a clash against Zimbabwe. The match is scheduled to be played on February 19 at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. Ahead of the match, Sri Lanka's batting consultant Vikram Rathour confirmed that slinger Matheesha Pathirana has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament. During the pre-match press conference, he said, "I think he has been declared unfit for the rest of the tournament. I think the news will come out if it's not already". He said that Pathirana's replacement is yet to be decided by the management. "As far as replacement is concerned, I think that is still being discussed," added Rathour. Earlier, during the group stage match against Australia, the right-arm slinger injured himself by clutching his left leg. Following the incident, he walked off the field and did not return to bowl in that innings. The Lankans managed to defeat the Aussies by eight wickets at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. Following the victory, the side sealed its berth in the "Super 8" stage of the ongoing global showpiece. The "Super 8" stage will kick off from February 21. Sri Lanka is placed in Group 2 along with teams England and New Zealand. The fourth team is yet to qualify. Dasun Shanaka-led men will play their first "Super 8" match against England. The clash is scheduled to be played on February 22 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. They will then lock horns with New Zealand on February 25 at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. The opponent team for their third clash is yet to be decided. The title clash of the T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to be played on March 8, with the venue yet to be decided. Sri Lanka's squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 Kusal Perera (WK), Dushmantha Chameera, Dasun Shanaka (C), Kusal Mendis (WK), Dushan Hemantha, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Pramod Madushan, Pathum Nissanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Kamil Mishara, Dunith Wellalage, Pavan Rathnayake, Matheesha Pathirana. (With ANI Inputs)
18 February,2026 07:53 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the T20 World Cup 2026 match against the Netherlands, Team India skipper Suryakumar Yadav has won the toss and elected to bat first at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The "Men in Blue" will enter the clash with two major changes. Axar Patel will make way for Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav has been replaced by Arshdeep Singh. After winning the toss, Team India skipper Suryakumar said, "We’ve chosen to bat first because the pitch looks good and should play true right through the innings. During practice last night, we noticed a bit of dew, so the plan is to put runs on the board and challenge ourselves by defending again. It’s an opportunity to test our bowlers under pressure, especially with similar conditions expected in a couple of days. Setting a total helps us understand what works on this surface and gives the bowling unit a clear target to protect. We want to keep building our strengths by sticking to the approach that has worked for us throughout the tournament. If we execute well, we hope to put up a strong score and make the most of the surface". India is coming off a massive 61-run win over Pakistan, which also cemented their place in the "Super Eights". The Netherlands had lost to the USA by a huge 93-run margin in their last outing. On the other hand, the Netherlands captain Scott Edwards said, "Yes, we would have batted. It looks like a good wicket. For us, it is about finishing our campaign well. Just looking to put in a complete performance today". Noah Croes will make his appearance for the Netherlands in the clash against Team India. He will come in place of Fref Klaassen. T20 World Cup 2026, IND vs NED: Confirmed Playing XI India: Ishan Kisha (WK), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah. Netherlands: Michael Levitt, Max O'Dowd, Bas de Leede, Colin, Ackermann, Scott Edwards (C) (WK), Zach Lion-Cacher, Noah Croes, Logan vam Beek, Roelef van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Kyle Klein.
18 February,2026 07:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTeam India is all set to lock horns with the Netherlands in the T20 World Cup 2026 match on Wednesday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Ahead of the clash, the Netherlands' skipper Scott Edwards sees the match as a massive opportunity to play against the hosts in one of the biggest stadiums in the world. He is also hopeful that the Netherlands performances will help the sport grow in his country. "It is obviously a massive opportunity. I think it is the biggest stadium in the world. So, to be playing against India in India at the biggest stadium is something all the guys are really looking forward to. It is a great opportunity to test yourselves against the best. I think cricket is growing in the Netherlands. Obviously, soccer is the main sport and we probably will never get to that level (of India), but for us it is just promoting the game and hopefully our performances can help grow that game in the Netherlands," he said. On the other hand, Team India has already qualified for the "Super 8" stage of the global showpiece. The "Men in Blue" will conclude their group stage matches by playing a clash against the Netherlands. Team India's management will likely provide rest to Ishan Kishan and lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah. In Kishan's place, Sanju Samson may come in for the wicket-keeper's role, whereas Arshdeep Singh may also make his appearance. The title clash of the T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to be played on March 8, with the venue yet to be decided. T20 World Cup 2026, IND vs NED: Full Squads India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (WK), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan (WK), Rinku Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Abhishek Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Tilak Varma. Netherlands: Roelof van der Merwe, Colin Ackermann, Logan van Beek, Timm van der Gugten, Paul van Meekeren, Max O'Dowd, Saqib Zulfiqar, Fred Klaassen, Bas de Leede, Scott Edwards (C) (WK), Aryan Dutt, Michael Levitt, Noah Croes, Zach Lion-Cachet, Kyle Klein. (With ANI Inputs)
18 February,2026 04:02 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSixty seven years after their maiden appearance, Jammu and Kashmir stormed into the Ranji Trophy finals for the first time on Wednesday, upstaging two-time former champions Bengal by six wickets in the semifinals here to add another historic chapter to a fairytale season so far. Auqib Nabi's stunning nine-wicket match haul and their IPL star Abdul Samad's fearless strokeplay ensured that the side once labelled "perennial underachievers" now stands one step away from the title. Chasing a modest 126 at the Bengal Cricket Academy ground, J&K rode on Samad's unbeaten 30 off 27 balls (3x6, 1x4) and rookie Vanshaj Sharma's composed 43 not out off 83 ball (4x4) as the pair stitched an unbroken 55-run stand for the fourth wicket to seal history on the fourth and penultimate day of the semifinal. In a heartwarming gesture, Samad, who had done the bulk of the damage, allowed the 22-year-old Vanshaj to finish it in style and the youngster launched Mukesh Kumar over long-on for six to spark wild celebrations in the visiting camp. From strugglers to history-makers Jammu and Kashmir had played 334 Ranji matches before this season, winning only 45. It took them 44 years to register their first victory, against Services in 1982-83. Knockout appearances were rare. A breakthrough came in 2013-14 when they edged Goa on net run rate to reach the quarterfinals, and in 2015-16 they stunned Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium under state icon Parveez Rasool. But consistency eluded them for decades as this season, under coach Ajay Sharma and captain Paras Dogra, they transformed belief into results. After an opening loss to Mumbai, they bounced back with innings wins over Rajasthan and key victories against Delhi and Hyderabad to enter the knockouts. A dramatic 56-run win over Madhya Pradesh in the quarterfinal, powered by Nabi's 12/110, brought them to the semifinals for the first time. Bengal's big names, bigger letdown With four India internationals in Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar and Shahbaz Ahmed, and India A star batter Abhimanyu Easwran along with home advantage to boot, this was Bengal's game to lose. They did exactly that after folding for 99 in 25.1 overs on day three that set Jammu and Kashmir a paltry 126 to win. Resuming at 43/2 on the penultimate day, J&K lost an early wicket but Bengal failed to sustain pressure despite Akash Deep's relentless 15-over morning spell (3/46) and Shami's probing 1/24 from 24 overs. There were anxious moments when Shubham Pundir was cleaned up and Dogra edged behind -- a low diving catch by Abishek Porel off Akash Deep eventually upheld after review. But Bengal looked fatigued and short of ideas once Samad counterattacked. The IPL batter, retained by Lucknow Super Giants, turned the tide in a single over against Akash Deep that fetched 18 runs. He did not spare Shahbaz either, dancing down the track to deposit him over mid-wicket and then through covers as J&K crossed the 100-run mark. From there, shoulders dropped in the Bengal camp. The introduction of part-time options and a visible dip in intensity underlined a campaign that promised much but fizzled when it mattered most. Nabi's season for the ages The foundations of Jammu and Kashmir's win, however, were laid by Nabi. "Last time we missed it in the quarters but we did all the hard work and we deserved it," said Nabi after winning the man-of-the-match. The 29-year-old pacer followed his 12-wicket match haul in the quarterfinal against Madhya Pradesh with another devastating effort, finishing with nine wickets in the match, including a five-for in the first innings, to take his season's tally to 55 wickets at an average of under 13. Nabi had also contributed with the bat playing a decisive knock at No.9. J&K had posted 302 in their first innings, reducing the deficit to 26, thanks to Dogra's gritty 58 (112 balls), Samad's counterattacking 82 (85 balls) and a crucial late surge from Nabi (42 off 54) and Yudhvir Singh (33) in a 64-run last-wicket stand. Dogra's milestone For 41-year-old captain Paras Dogra, it was a week of personal and collective milestones. In a career spanning 24 years across Himachal Pradesh, Pondicherry and now J&K, Dogra also became only the second batter after Wasim Jaffer to score 10,000 Ranji Trophy runs. Introduced to the game by his father Kultar, Dogra's journey has been one of endurance and quiet steel. "It's a big achievement, never thought about it. I enjoyed the journey full of ups and downs. The game makes you a strong human being," Dogra said. His resolute half-century in a 143-run partnership with Samad in the first innings set the tone for the side's resilience. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
18 February,2026 01:51 PM IST | Kalyani (West Bengal) | PTIIndia all-rounder Hardik Pandya has revealed that his girlfriend Mahieka Sharma helped him find the child inside him and reignite his excitement for the game, ensuring he attained his full potential. Mahieka, a model and actress, and has been dating Pandya since late 2025. “After the last IPL, I realised that I really wanted to play to my full potential. I think until now, I haven’t utilised more than 40 per cent of my batting potential. What I know as a cricketer, what I imagine, what I manifest, and how I practice, have not translated into performance by more than 40 per cent. I took some time in my life to figure out how to bring that out. That’s when Mahieka came into my life. We started talking about the sport and how to bring that child back,” Pandya told JioStar recently. “Mahieka helped me rediscover that excitement for the game that I always had. I went behind the scenes, worked really hard, and had a good amount of batting sessions. There were days when I was on the ground for six to seven hours,” added Pandya. Watch this! Hardik’s watch Hardik Pandya sported a rare Jacob & Co Epic X Sport ‘Rudra’ Edition watch for the tie vs Pakistan on Sunday. The blue watch has a special artwork of Lord Shiva on the dial and is valued at R25 lakh with only 25 pieces manufactured.
18 February,2026 01:06 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentWho can forget the brilliant catch Suryakumar Yadav took in Barbados to seal India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph in the final against South Africa? That contest added to the already strong Indo-Protean rivalry. India's hegemony South Africa’s emergence as a strong challenger to the Men in Blue’s hegemony is a good sign for the game, given that India’s traditional rivals, Pakistan, are hardly the force they used to be. India’s recent battles with South Africa have been far more interesting and closer than those against Pakistan. The rivalry is crucial in the context of the ongoing T20 World Cup too, considering that while-ball powerhouses Australia have already made a premature exit. India skipper Suryakumar Yadav (left) and South Africa captain Aiden Markram during the first T20I in Cuttack last December. Pic/AFP India and South Africa will face each other in a Super Eight encounter at Ahmedabad on Sunday. And besides the emerging healthy rivalry, there is also a brotherly rivalry between the two teams. Albie Morkel, 44, is a specialist consultant with South Africa, while his younger brother Morne Morkel, 41, is India’s bowling coach. Asked about facing his brother, Albie joked, “We don’t look at each other,” before adding, “Our mother is in a dilemma, whether to support South Africa or India.” Speaking to the media at the Kotla on the eve of their last league match against the UAE on Wednesday, Albie said, “The real tournament begins with the Super Eights. It’s good we've played our first three games in Ahmedabad, where the clash with India will take place. That’s when the real pressure will start.” Full house on Feb 22 Elaborating on the Indo-Protean rivalry, he said: “Over the years, we've built a healthy rivalry with India and the contests between us have been exciting. It’s going to be the same and we're geared up to face them at a full house in Ahmedabad. We’ve had a good run there, winning our three group games, including a tough one against Afghanistan. It’s going to be a high-pressure game which will bring out the best in us.” After coming close to losing to Afghanistan in Ahmedabad, South Africa are back at their best. Since then, they have registered a comprehensive win over New Zealand and are now preparing for the last league game here against the UAE on Wednesday morning. SevenNo. of games India and SA have played against each other in T20 World Cups; India have won five, while SA have emerged victorious twice SixNo. of T20Is India have won vs SA (out of 8) after the 2024 T20 World Cup final 3-1India’s identical winning margin in the last two T20I series against SA
18 February,2026 10:32 AM IST | New Delhi | Santosh SuriNetherlands captain Scott Edwards on Tuesday said a string of impressive performances from the associate nations in the T20 World Cup should lead to more bilateral cricket against Test playing countries. Lack of cricket against top teams is the common complaint of associate teams taking part in the ongoing T20 showpiece. Zimbabwe upset Australia while the likes of Nepal and Italy ran England close in the league stage. Speaking ahead of the their final league match against India, Netherlands skipper Edwards said doing well in ICC events consistently would always be improbable for the non Test playing nations unless they play against the best outside of World Cups. "I think this World Cup has been brilliant with the way a lot of associate sides have played. And hopefully that does promote more opportunities for Test playing nations to play against associates outside of World Cups," said Edwards. Considering the limitations, Edwards feels his team has done well on the global stage. "I think we've probably punched above our weight. For a while, I think we've played a lot of good cricket through World Cups. To get to the next level, a lot of it comes down to more opportunities against Test playing nations. "However that comes about, there's obviously restrictions with funding for us and those sort of things. But it's not really under our control. For us, it's just playing our best cricket when we can on the world stage and hopefully that gives us opportunities," said Edwards. They only get to play teams like India at ICC events, making their task a lot tougher. "It is a reality for us. For us, it's just preparing as well as we can and coming into these competitions. As I said, the better you play, the more games you win, the more of a voice you potentially have," he said. Any specific plans for Indian batters who have struggled against spin in the last couple of games? "We go into every game with plans for different batters. Obviously, there's a lot of firepower in that Indian side, so we've got our individual plans for guys. That's what we'll be looking to do," added Edwards. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 February,2026 10:29 AM IST | Ahmedabad | PTIHaving recuperated from an ankle injury, batter Pratika Rawal was on Tuesday added to India's women's cricket squad for a three-match ODI series against Australia beginning February 24 in Brisbane. Rawal picked up the injury during the World Cup last year while fielding during a game against Bangladesh. She was replaced by Shafali Verma in the tournament that India went on to win for the first time. "The Women's Selection Committee has added Pratika Rawal to India's squad for the three-match ODI series against Australia women, which is part of the ongoing multi-format tour of Australia," read a statement from the BCCI. "Pratika has completed her rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence and has fully recovered from her ankle injury sustained in October during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025," it added. After the opening game in Brisbane, the other two ODIs of the series will be held in Hobart on February 27 and March 1. The 25-year-old is already a part of the Test squad for the one-off game from March 6 in Perth. India's updated squad:Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Renuka Thakur, Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), Uma Chetry (WK), Kashvee Gautam, Amanjot Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Pratika Rawal. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 February,2026 10:27 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIAuqib Nabi delivered a performance to remember, claiming a nine-wicket match haul as his counter-attacking 42 at No. 9 has put Jammu and Kashmir on the cusp of a historic maiden Ranji Trophy final appearance after bundling out Bengal for 99 on day three, here on Tuesday. Even a superb effort from an out-of-favour Mohammed Shami, who returned with career-best figures of 8/90 from 22.1 overs, could not prevent Bengal's slide as the home team collapsed inexplicably in a little over one session, lasting just two-and-a-half hours -- 25.1 overs to be precise. Set a modest 126-run target, Jammu and Kashmir reached 43/2 at stumps, needing 83 more runs with two full days remaining. Jammu and Kashmir lost Shubham Khajuria (1) and Yawer Hasan (6) to Akash Deep in successive overs, but left-hander Shubham Pundir looked composed in his unbeaten 23 off 37 balls, striking four crisp boundaries. Rookie Vanshaj Sharma, promoted to No. 4 after his second-innings fifty batting at No 6 in the quarterfinal win against Madhya Pradesh, remained solid on nine off 25 balls. The unbeaten pair walked back to a standing ovation from the Jammu and Kashmir camp, calm and assured, with history within touching distance. Bengal, despite home advantage, now require an extraordinary turnaround to keep their final hopes alive as they would have some sleepless nights in the offing. Resuming the day precariously at 198/5, Jammu and Kashmir were lifted by Shami's relentless burst. Though not at peak fitness and operating mostly in the mid 130-kph range, he was disciplined and relentless, exploiting the fifth-stump channel with clinical seam movement. He removed Abid Mushtaq (27) and Kanhaiya Wadhawan (29) to complete his third five-wicket haul of the season, and 15th overall in 97 first-class matches. However, just when Bengal appeared poised to secure a commanding first-innings lead, Nabi, the leading wickettaker of the season, turned the tide with a 42 from 54 balls studded with one six and five fours. No 10 Yudhvir Singh played a perfect support with 33 from 42 balls (2x4, 2x6) as the ninth-wicket pair added 64 runs from 76 balls -- a partnership worth the weight of gold. It proved match-defining in the end as they took the team from 269/7 as Jammu and Kashmir narrowed the deficit to just 30 in quick time, shifting the momentum decisively. Shami wrapped up the innings at 302, finishing with 8/90, yet Nabi's 42 had already ensured the visitors had their hope intact going into the changeover. If Shami gave Bengal hope in the morning, it was Nabi who extinguished it in the afternoon with left-arm slow medium Sunil Kumar (4/27 from 9.1 overs) providing perfect support. Nabi struck in his first over of Bengal's second innings, trapping Sudip Chatterjee lbw for a first-ball duck. The review could not save the opener, who registered a pair in the match. Soon after, Sunil removed the first innings centurion Sudip Kumar Gharami fresh from his 299 against Andhra in the previous match at this venue. But he went for a three-ball duck as Bengal burned another review. The home side's top three, including skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran, managed just five runs. On a pitch that had eased out considerably, the lack of application from Easwaran was glaring. Nabi found his pads for just five and may have decisively ended the Dehradun lad's chances of wearing the India Test cap. Easwaran has now played 11 innings in knock-out games for Bengal (QF. sermis and final) in past six years and has failed miserably in each and every game. Nabi led from the front with figures of 4 for 36 from 10 overs, including the prized scalp of Easwaran. He later cleaned up Habib Gandhi with an incoming delivery that sent the leg stump cartwheeling. With this effort, Nabi, who took 5/87 in the first innings, took his match haul to nine wickets taking his season's tally to 55 wickets from 16 innings at an average of under 13. Sunil cleverly set traps, including a deep mid-wicket ploy that accounted for Sumanta Gupta and Akash Deep. Yudhvir chipped in with two wickets as the three-pronged pace attack shared all 10 scalps. For Bengal, playing at home with a rare opportunity to host a final and chase their first title since 1989-90, the collapse was both sudden and damaging. After bowling Jammu and Kashmir out for 302, courtesy Shami's eight-wicket burst, they showed little resistance with the bat when it mattered most. Brief Scores Bengal 328 and 99; 25.1 overs (Shahbaz Ahmed 24; Auqib Nabi 4/36, Sunil Kumar 4/27). Jammu and Kashmir 302; 76.1 overs (Abdul Samad 82, Paras Dogra 58, Nabi 42, Yudhvir Singh 33; Mohammed Shami 8/90) and 43/2; 13 overs. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. 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18 February,2026 10:26 AM IST | Kalyani (West Bengal) | PTIADVERTISEMENT
