Yudhwir singh charak

Ranji Trophy Final: Qamran Iqbal produced a composed and memorable century while Sahil Lotra underlined his growing stature with an unbeaten half-century as Jammu & Kashmir batted Karnataka out of contention with a dominant wicketless opening session on the final day of the Ranji Trophy final.

Resuming Day 5 with an already imposing 477-run lead, Jammu & Kashmir tightened their grip further by reaching 285/4 at lunch in their second innings, extending their overall lead to 576 runs and leaving Karnataka to merely go through the motions on a lifeless final morning at the Hubli Cricket Ground.

The session belonged entirely to Iqbal, who converted his overnight 94 into a magnificent century under little pressure but immense significance. The elegant opener reached the milestone with a crisp boundary off Shreyas Gopal, sparking celebrations in the dressing room and applause from the stands. It was an innings defined by patience, control and mental resolve, coming at the most important juncture in Jammu & Kashmir’s cricketing history.