Indore, February 9 Driven by pacer Auqib Nabi's outstanding performance, Jammu & Kashmir advanced to the Ranji Trophy semifinals for the first time since their debut 67 years ago, defeating former champions Madhya Pradesh by 56 runs here on Monday.
The 29-year-old pacer shone with a career-best 12-wicket haul, making a strong case for selection in the national team after a remarkable season in which he has consistently delivered match-winning performances across different formats.
Chasing a target of 291, the 2021-22 season winners, Madhya Pradesh, were dismissed for 234, paving the way for Jammu & Kashmir to reach the last four stage, where they will face the winner of the quarterfinal match between Andhra and Bengal.
Jammu & Kashmir last reached the Ranji Trophy knockout stage six years ago.
The other semifinal will be between Uttarakhand and Karnataka.
Auqib once again proved to be the star performer, adding 5/70 to his first-innings heroics of 7/40, finishing with a total of 12 wickets for just 110 runs.
Despite being reduced to 84/5 at the close of Saturday's play, with Auqib having taken 3/23, the pacer returned to complete the job, first dismissing Ramveer Gurjar (11) and then breaking the resistance of Saransh Jain, who had remained unbeaten on 64 off 81 balls, keeping Madhya Pradesh's innings alive.
Aryan Pandey's 22 was the last wicket to fall, but Madhya Pradesh's collapse had already begun earlier in the day, with India player Venkatesh Iyer being the first to go for 104, just 20 runs added to their overnight total of 84/5.
Realizing victory, J&K pressed on, but veteran MP all-rounder Saransh Jain kept the fight going, forming valuable partnerships with Shubham Sharma (32) and Ramveer Gurjar (11) before eventually being dismissed by Auqib, having hit seven boundaries and a six.
Left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq also played a crucial role, taking three wickets for 49 runs.
Brief scores:
Jammu & Kashmir: 194 and 248 all out in 70.3 overs. Madhya Pradesh: 152 and 234 all out in 68.3 overs (Shubham Sharma 32, Saransh Jain 64; Auqib Nabi 5/70, Abid Mushtaq 3/49).