Kalyani (West Bengal), February 17 Auqib Nabi delivered a remarkable performance, claiming a nine-wicket victory as his counter-attacking 42 at No. 9 helped Jammu and Kashmir edge closer to a historic debut appearance in the Ranji Trophy final, after dismissing Bengal for 99 on the third day here on Tuesday.
Even a superb effort from out-of-favour Mohammed Shami, who took 8/90 from 22.1 overs, couldn't prevent Bengal's collapse, as the home team unexpectedly crumbled in just over two and a half hours – precisely 25.1 overs.
Chasing a modest target of 126, Jammu and Kashmir reached 43/2 at the close, needing 83 more runs with two days remaining.
Jammu and Kashmir lost Shubham Khajuria (1) and Yawer Hasan (6) to Akash Deep in successive overs, but left-hander Shubham Pundir remained composed, scoring 23 off 37 balls with four boundaries.
Rookie Vanshaj Sharma, promoted to No. 4 after his fifty in the quarterfinal win against Madhya Pradesh, remained solid, scoring 9 off 25 balls.
The pair returned to the field to a standing ovation from the Jammu and Kashmir camp, appearing calm and confident, as they were within striking distance of history.
Despite playing at home, Bengal now need an extraordinary turnaround to keep their hopes alive, as they face several difficult days ahead.
Resuming the day at 198/5, Jammu and Kashmir were lifted by Shami's relentless bowling.
Although not at his peak fitness and operating mostly in the 130-kph range, he was disciplined and relentless, exploiting the fifth-stump channel with accurate seam movement.
He dismissed 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 wicket-taker of the season, turned the tide with a 42 off 54 balls, including one six and five fours.
No. 10 Yudhvir Singh provided excellent support, scoring 33 off 42 balls (2x4, 2x6), adding 64 runs in 76 balls – a partnership worth its weight in gold.
This proved to be the turning point, as they helped the team recover from 269/7 to narrow the deficit to just 30, shifting the momentum decisively.
Shami wrapped up the innings at 302, finishing with 8/90, but Nabi's 42 had already ensured the visitors maintained their hopes going into the changeover.
While Shami gave Bengal hope in the morning, it was Nabi who extinguished it in the afternoon, with left-arm medium-fast Sunil Kumar (4/27 from 9.1 overs) providing crucial support.
Nabi dismissed Sudip Chatterjee lbw in his first over of Bengal's second innings, giving him a first-ball duck.
The review could not save the opener, who had already been dismissed twice in the match.
Soon after, Sunil removed Sudip Kumar Gharami, who had scored 299 against Andhra in the previous match at this venue, with a duck.
However, Bengal burned another review.
The home team's top three, including captain Abhimanyu Easwaran, managed just five runs.
On a pitch that had eased out considerably, Easwaran's lack of application was evident. Nabi dismissed him for five, seemingly ending the young batsman's chances of playing in the India Test team.
Easwaran has played 11 innings in knockout games for Bengal (quarter-finals and final) in the past six years and has failed to make a significant contribution in each game.
Nabi led from the front, taking 4 for 36 from 10 overs, including the prized wicket of Easwaran.
He later dismissed Habib Gandhi with an incoming delivery that sent the leg stump cartwheeling.
With this performance, Nabi, who took 5/87 in the first innings, reached his match haul of 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.