Jammu & Kashmir march towards maiden Ranji Trophy title

HUBBALLI: As Karnataka took the field in the final session on Friday, a scene behind the spectators’ gallery at a distance mirrored their fading hopes. Smoke ballooned from burning piles of dried leaves — symbolic of how Jammu and Kashmir had steadily dried up the home side’s chances over three days before the home team’s chances went up in smoke on the penultimate day of the Ranji Trophy final.Much like J&K, Karnataka too have scripted stirring comebacks this season and, for a brief passage of play at the KSCA Rajnagar Stadium here, they raised hopes of another revival. But those hopes were doused by opener Qamran Iqbal (94 n.o.; 160b; 11x4, 1x6), whose assured knock kept J&K in command.After bowling Karnataka out for 293 and securing a 291-run first-innings lead, J&K chose not to enforce the follow-on and instead batted again. Karnataka’s bowlers finally showed some bite but the resurgence came three days too late. Having reduced the visitors to 11/2 inside three overs, Karnataka briefly sensed an opening.However, J&K recovered steadily to close Day 4 at 186/4 in 57 overs, stretching their overall lead to a daunting 477 runs. Earlier, Mayank Agarwal’s (160; 266b; 21x4) vigil was ended by Auqib Nabi.CM Omar Abdullah arrivesJammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah arrived in Hubballi on Friday to witness his team’s historic coronation on Saturday.Brief scores: J&K 584 & 186/7 (Q Iqbal 94*, P Krishna 2/42) vs Karnataka 293 all out (M Agarwal 160; A Nabi 5/54).