In fine nick: Samad’s half-century was studded with nine fours and three sixes.
| Photo Credit: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
Abdul Samad’s free-flowing 75 (96b, 9×4, 3×6) and opener Yawar Hassan’s compact unbeaten 72 (185b, 7×4) helped Jammu & Kashmir reach 212 for four after TNCA President’s XI declared on a mammoth 567 for nine on day three of the Buchi Babu semifinal at the CSK High Performance Centre here on Tuesday.
The duo added 108 runs for the fourth wicket.
Samad took the attack to the spinners. He charged at off-spinner J. Hemchudeshan for a six over midwicket and reverse-swept him for a four to the third-man boundary. The 23-year-old brought up his fifty off 64 balls with a long-on six, and flicked for a four to the square-leg boundary off left-arm spinner P. Vignesh in the same over.
Pacer Trilok Nag wasn’t spared either. When shorter balls were aimed at him, there was a dismissive aerial pull for a four to midwicket and an imperious swat down the ground for a four.
Hassan employed the cut for five of his seven fours. He also played an eye-catching on-drive off Trilok and a textbook cover drive off Hemchudeshan for a couple of fours. He was dropped on 66 by Vidyuth at midwicket off skipper Pradosh Ranjan Paul’s off-spin.
The scores (semifinal, day three): TNCA President’s XI 567/9 decl. in 203 overs (Vimal Khumar 112, Pradosh Ranjan Paul 91, Andre Siddarth 57, G. Ajitesh 101, R.S. Ambrish 83) vs Jammu & Kashmir 212/4 in 65 overs (Yawar Hassan 72 batting, Abdul Samad 75).
Published – September 02, 2025 08:38 pm IST
