SMA Trophy 2021: With Frail Net Run Rate, J&K Walks Tightrope To Qualify for Play-off Stage
Srinagar: After receiving a major drubbing at the hands of Punjab in previous game, Jammu and Kashmir has landed itself in a soup ahead of its last group stage match against Railways at KSCA Cricket Ground, Alur, Bengluru.
The equation as it stands though demands just a simple win for Jammu and Kashmir to make it to playoffs, however if otherwise provided with a side by side win by Uttar Pradesh against Karnataka, will surely expose the Himalayan region team to a plethora of calculations, which can go either way – In or Out!
The current statistics of the teams in ‘Elite Group – A’, of which Jammu & Kashmir is a part, reads:
Punjab – Played 4, Won 4, Lost 0, NRR 2.814
Karnataka – Played 4, Won 3, Lost 1, NRR 0.259
Jammu and Kashmir – Played 4, Won 2, Lost 2, NRR -0.132
Railways – Played 4, Won 2, Lost 2, NRR -1.234
Uttar Pradesh – Played 4, Won 1, Lost 3, NRR -0.267
Tripura – Played 4, Won 0, Lost 4, NRR -1.477
In a mixed bag of performances in the tournament, Jammu and Kashmir has won two matches, losing as many in its total four outings so far.
Jammu & Kashmir lost its inaugural match against Karnataka with a margin of 43 runs which was compensated by a remarkable comeback as the team defeated Tripura by 7 wickets. Capitalising on the that performance, the team went on to humble a star-studded Uttar Pradesh by eight wickets to go second on the table.
A seemingly upbeat Jammu and Kashmir unit hit a thud after being outplayed in its fourth match by an unbeaten Punjab team, losing with 10-wickets.
The lopsided match result pushed the team back to number three on the ‘Elite Group – A’ table behind Karnataka and topper’s Punjab.
The two scheduled matches for the day, Jammu and Kashmir versus Railways and Karnataka versus Uttar Pradesh, having quite a significance of their own, will see supporters with hope in hearts and prayers on lips to wish their respective teams go through.
The probable XI for Jammu and Kashmir is likely to see some changes for an altogether important match starting this afternoon. (GNS)
