Kalyani, Feb. 19 -- In their first Ranji Trophy semi-finals, Jammu and Kashmir didn't want to deal in the what ifs. So even when they were 146/5 in reply to Bengal's first innings total of 328, they didn't give up. Even when the opposition attack consisted of Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep, they didn't give up. Rather, they simply found a way to raise their level. And see where that has got them. From 146/5, they made their way to 302. A first-innings lead can be the difference between victory and defeat in the Ranji but J&K's bowlers then bundled Bengal out for 99. It left them needing just 126 for victory and they duly closed out the match on Day 4. The first-time semi-finalists are now first-time finalists. As the players streamed out onto the ground after the win, the outpouring of joy needed to be seen to be believed. Soon, they were dancing in the dressing room as well. "We didn't think too much," said Paras Dogra, 41, Jammu & Kashmir's journeyman captain. "A 26-run lead doesn't matter because we had seven sessions and two-and-a-half days left." The chase wasn't easy -- the weight of history can do strange things to cricketers. Shami had taken 8/90 in the first innings and a few early wickets would have got the pacer in the mood again.P14...