Jammu and Kashmir’s dream run in the Ranji Trophy came to an end after a gritty Punjab defeated them by a 100 runs to enter the semifinals of the premier domestic event on the fourth day of their last-eight stage match here on Saturday.
Seamer Vikram Rajvir Singh returned with a five-wicket haul as Punjab dismissed Jammu and Kashmir, chasing a target of 324, for 233 in their second innings.
Singh ran through the lower middle-order, dismissing skipper Parveez Rasool (10), Manzoor Dar (10), Obaid Haroon (0) and Samiullah Beigh (2) in quick time to derail Jammu and Kashmir’s chase at the Moti Bagh Stadium here.
Punjab will now face Karnataka in the semifinal to be held in Mohali from January 18.
Chasing 324, J&K resumed their second innings at 77-2 but their hopes of a successfully chasing the target for a maiden semifinal appearance in the Ranji Trophy came crashing soon.
In the second over of the day, Ian Dev Singh (18) was sent back to the hut by pacer Manpreet Gony as Jammu and Kashmir slipped to 80 for three.