Services thrash J&K by seven wickets

Chandigarh: Pacer Shadab Nazar claimed four scalps as Services thrashed Jammu and Kashmir by seven wickets in a North Zone T20 match for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at the Sector 16 Stadium here today.

Opting to bat, J&K batsmen could put up paltry 91 runs in 18.4 overs before Services overhauled the target with 20 balls to spare. Samiullah Beig (24) was the highest run-scorer for J&K, while skipper Parvez Rasool (5) also failed to inspire his side. Nazar drew the first blood for Services when he trapped Adil Reshi (13) in front of the wicket. Arshad Kawaja (1) became Nazar`s second. Nazar went on to pick two more wickets, including that of Samiullah to end J&K innings inside 20 overs. Left-arm spinners Abhishek Sakuja (2/14) and Avishek Sinha (2/23) bagged two wickets each, while pacer Suraj Yadav (1/18) got one batsman out. Chasing the target, Rajat Paliwal scored an unbeaten 29 and added 45 runs with Anshul Gupta (25) for third wicket to take the side home after openers Nakul Verma (19) and Yashpal Singh (17) were dismissed by medium pacer Abid Nabi (2/13). Paliwal hit four boundaries in his 27-ball knock and Gupta`s 25 came off 26 deliveries and was laced with a four and a six. Brief Scores: Jammu & Kashmir: 91 all out in 18.4 overs (Samiullah Beig 24, Vijay Dogra 16; Shadab Nazar 4/13) Services: 93 for three in 16.4 overs (Rajat Paliwal 29 not out, Anshul Gupta 25; Abid Nabi 2/13).