Ranji Trophy Final: With his seventh five-wicket haul of the season, Auqib Nabi takes Jammu and Kashmir to the doorsteps of maiden title and himself closer to an India call-up | Cricket News
Auqib Nabi had some unfinished business at hand in Hubballi. He had promised himself a session on Friday to wrap up the job. He stuck to his word on Day 4 – two sessions after crafting a dream spell that propelled him closer to an India cap and Jammu and Kashmir to a historic Ranji Trophy triumph in their first attempt. There was the bittersweet feeling of not getting a steady go at Mayank Agarwal, the rearguard centurion who had ushered Karnataka to 222 for five overnight. During a jaw-dropping act lasting nine overs across both ends on Thursday afternoon, Nabi constricted KL Rahul, Karun Nair and R Smaran. But Agarwal, the ageing warhorse, got away. The Karnataka opener faced only four deliveries from Nabi in his first spell, but a trail of breadcrumbs was still left for Nabi to work on. His conspicuous forward movement helped Agarwal ward off the imminent threat of seam movement. Agarwal then based his knock on a series of cuts, charged drives and flicks against the spinners, belting a …
