Srinagar, Feb. 19 -- Jammu and Kashmir cricket team on Wednesday achieved a historic milestone by reaching the final of Ranji Trophy after 66 years, enthusing the cricket aficionados on the streets of the Union territory and eliciting praise from the political leaders and cricketing experts. J&K defeated two times former champions Bengal by six wickets at Kalyan after restricting them to a very low total in their second innings. J&K had to reach a target of 126 in their second innings which they achieved in 35th over on day four after scoring 302 in their first innings. Bengal had scored 328 and 99 in their two innings. Chief minister Omar Abdullah congratulated the J&K Ranji team. "No individual can win the Ranji Trophy alone. This is the success of the entire team, and of the support staff as well. I congratulate them all on my behalf and on behalf of the entire people of J&K," Omar said. The CM said that the achievement reflects the team's determination and rising sporting culture in Jammu and Kashmir. He also congratulated Paras Dogra, team captain for becoming the 2nd player in Indian domestic circuit to score 10,000 plus runs in Ranji Trophy and Auqib Nabi for his 9-wicket haul in the semi-final, taking his season's tally to 55 wickets from 16 innings. J&K started its Ranji Trophy journey in 1959-60 and had last qualified for the knockouts in 2013-14. National cricketing icons like Irfan Pathan who mentored the team for some time in 2018-19 said that J&K has played amazing cricket as a team. "Today, I am witnessing the J&K cricket team scripting history by playing the final. The former players and coaches of J&K, who had seen this dream, that dream has now become reality," Pathan said. "They beat Hyderabad, then defeated Rajasthan by an innings and then knocked out defending champion MP in the quarter final. The team also beat former champions West Bengal in the semi final and seven times champions Delhi in the league stage," he said. J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha congratulated the team on their victory. You have etched a new golden chapter in the sporting history of J&K. Entire UT is proud of your extraordinary performance. May you continue this winning momentum and bring glory to J&K," he said....