Ranji Trophy: Ankit, Saxena spun J&K to a crushing defeat inside three days

Indore: Left-arm spinner Ankit Sharma returned with career best match and innings bowling figures as Madhya Pradesh handed Jammu and Kashmir a crushing innings and 97-run defeat in under three days in their Ranji Trophy cricket match here on Saturday.

23-year-old Ankit returned with innings figures of 5/35 while off-spinner Jalaj Saxena also claimed an identical five wickets for 35 as the duo spun J&K out for just 97 in 36.3 overs in their second innings after being asked to follow on at Holkar Cricket Stadium.

Ankit had taken four wickets for 49 runs in Jammu and Kashmir's first innings 177 all out to come up with a career-best match figures of 9/84.

MP, who got seven points from today's win, remained in the hunt for a knock-out round berth while J&K ended their campaign.

The visiting side resumed the third day at 175 for 8 in their first innings but they lasted just nine balls, losing their last two wickets for the addition of just two runs, with Ankit taking both the wickets.

J&K were then asked to follow on as they conceded a 194-run first innings lead to MP who had scored 371 all out in their first innings.

After following on, J&K got only halfway to making MP bat again, being rolled for 97. Once again Ankit played a central role with the ball and he got an able supporter in off-spinner Saxena.

Rouf Bisati top-scored with 22 while seven of his batting colleagues could not score double digit runs.

Brief Scores:

Madhya Pradesh: 371 beat Jammu & Kashmir 177 all out in 51.4 overs (Aditya Singh 64; Ankit Sharma 4/49) and 97 all out in 36.3 overs (Ankit Sharma 5/35, Jalaj Saxena 5/35) by an innings and 97 runs.