Ton-up Paras Dogra rescues J&K; moves behind Wasim Jaffer in Ranji Trophy’s most centuries list

Srinagar:Paras Dogra was calmness personified as wickets fell around him. In the end, the Jammu & Kashmir skipper finished Day Two with an unbeaten 169-ball 112 to help his team push closer to Mumbai’s total in their Elite Group D Ranji Trophy clash at the Sher-I-Kashmir Stadium on Thursday. At stumps, J&K were 273/7, trailing by 113 runs, in reply to Mumbai's 386 all out. Dogra brought up his century with a flick to mid-on in the 57th over. It was 40-year-old's 32nd Ranji century—just second for J&K—which put him second on the list for most Ranji centuries behind Wasim Jaffer's 40. Coincidentally, he overtook J&K coach Ajay Sharma who has scored 31 centuries playing for Delhi. The century also helped him cross 10,000 runs in first-class cricket. He currently has 10,078 runs out of which 9617 have come in Ranji.

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Dogra was hardly troubled by Mumbai bowlers, nor did he played any rash shots, playing mostly along the ground to frustrate the opponents. Mumbai’s innings lasted for just 18.1 overs in the morning session as they lost five wickets for just 50 runs. And looking at how the pitch eased off in the post lunch session on Day One, Mumbai wanted quick breakthroughs to keep J&K in check and the bowlers didn't disappoint. Skipper Shardul Thakur (1/69) led from the front as he got Shubham Khajuria (0) to nick one to Ayush Mhatre at second slip on the third delivery to set Mumbai on their way.

Mumbai were pumped up and the excitement level went up a notch in the next over when a Tushar Deshpande (2/34) delivery kicked from a good length, kissed the edge of Musaif Ajaz's (1) bat and into the hands of Siddhesh Lad at first slip. The Mumbai domination continued in the post-lunch session when in the first over debutant left-arm pacer Irfan Umair (1/40) displayed his wares as he dismissed Qamran Iqbal (23, 24b; 3x4, 1x6) to reduce J&K to 32/3. With conditions easing off rapidly, Dogra and Abdul Samad (44, 69; 6x4) put their heads down and started the home side's resurrection. After the initial jitters, they settled down and counter-attacked the Mumbai bowlers. Samad was looking good, but he couldn’t control his attacking instincts to hole out to Musheer Khan at deep midwicket off Tanush Kotian (2/53). It ended the 94-run partnership between him at Dogra for the fourth wicket. J&K entered tea session at 150/4 and in the last session Mumbai sniffed an opportunity, reducing them to 166/6 with Shams Mulani (1/65) getting Kanhaiya Wadhawan (15, 25; 1x4) stumped and Deshpande rattling Sahil Lothra's (4, 4b; 4x1) timber.

Amid all the chaos, Dogra didn't panic and brought all his experience to the fore to anchor himself at one end. He was waiting for someone to stand beside him, and he found an able ally in Abid Mushtaq (40, 57; 4x4, 2x6) as they set about cutting the deficit as much as possible.

Their seventh-wicket stand of 61 stabilized the J&K innings. Mushtaq came in with an attacking intent, hit some lusty blows before an uppish drive off Kotian went straight into the hands of Mulani at covers.

Earlier, Yudhvir Singh took three of five wickets that Mumbai lost in the first one and half hour to finish with figures of 5/96. It was 28-year-old's second five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. His first one—5/17— came against Services last season. One of those dismissals was that of Shams Mulani (91, 161b, 9x4, 1x6) who fell just nine runs short of his second first-class century.Brief ScoresMumbai 1st innings: 386 (Siddhesh Lad 116, Shams Mulani 91, Yudhvir Singh 5/91)J&K 1st innings: 273/7 (Paras Dogra 112 batting, Tushar Deshpande 2/34).