Hubbali, Feb 28 (NationPress) Qamran Iqbal delivered an impressive and memorable century, while Sahil Lotra showcased his rising talent with an unbeaten half-century. Jammu & Kashmir effectively batted Karnataka out of contention during a commanding wicketless opening session on the final day of the Ranji Trophy final.

Starting Day 5 with a considerable 477-run lead, Jammu & Kashmir further solidified their position by reaching 285/4 at lunch in their second innings, extending their overall advantage to 576 runs, leaving Karnataka to merely follow through on a lifeless final morning at the Hubli Cricket Ground.

The session was dominated by Iqbal, who transformed his overnight score of 94 into a splendid century with minimal pressure but significant importance. The graceful opener marked the milestone with a precise boundary off Shreyas Gopal, igniting celebrations in the dressing room and applause from the audience. His innings was characterized by patience, precision, and mental fortitude, occurring at a pivotal moment in Jammu & Kashmir’s cricketing journey.

After navigating a tense review early in the morning, where Karnataka sought an appeal for a catch behind and stumping, Iqbal’s confidence surged as he took complete command of the game. He combined caution with assertiveness, capitalizing on loose deliveries while remaining largely unphased by Karnataka’s spin-heavy attack. By lunch, he had progressed to an unbeaten 124 off 247 balls, anchoring the innings with authority.

Meanwhile, Lotra supported his senior partner with a disciplined and composed innings. Displaying maturity beyond his years, he reached a well-earned half-century and continued to build steadily, frustrating Karnataka’s bowlers and fielders alike. His unbeaten score of 80 off 182 balls demonstrated his calm demeanor and ability to occupy the crease, ensuring that there were no openings for a Karnataka resurgence.

The duo’s unbroken partnership not only added vital runs but also drained any remaining belief from Karnataka. Their collaboration surpassed the 100-run mark during the session, symbolizing Jammu & Kashmir’s total dominance and Karnataka’s diminishing resistance.

Karnataka’s bowlers, despite trying various strategies, including the off-spin of Karun Nair and part-time overs from KL Rahul, were unable to create significant opportunities. A dropped catch and several near-misses epitomized their frustrating morning, as they went wicketless during the session and struggled to apply any sustained pressure.

With the lead already insurmountable and time swiftly running out, the contest drifted into an unbalanced match, with Jammu & Kashmir firmly in control and approaching what would be a historic first Ranji Trophy triumph.

Jammu & Kashmir 584 all out & 285/4 in 95 overs (Qamran Iqbal 124*, Sahil Lotra 80*; Prasidh Krishna 2-42) leads Karnataka 293 all out in 93.3 overs (Mayank Agarwal 160, Kruthik Krishna 36; Auqib Nabi Dar 5-54, Sushil Kumar 2-51, Yudhwir Singh Charak 2-55) by 576 runs