J&K qualify, edge Goa by 0.001

Prior to the 2013-14 season, the farthest Jammu & Kashmir had progressed in the Ranji Trophy was the pre-quarterfinal against Odisha in 2000-01. On Thursday, they qualified for the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal by the thinnest of margins - their quotient was 0.001 better than Goa's - after drawing their game with Tripura in Agartala.

After Goa's victory over Andhra yesterday, they were tied with J&K on four wins from eight games. J&K, having already secured three points from the first-innings lead, needed to beat Tripura on the last day or ensure they kept their score in the second innings above Goa's quotient to ensure qualification (see table). Chasing 228, J&K finished at 87 for 2, staying ahead of Goa's quotient. J&K finished with a quotient of 1.006, over Goa's 1.005.

J&K's performance on the fourth day was built around Parvez Rasool, who finished with 7 for 87 in the second innings to restrict Tripura to 272. The hosts began the day at 103 for 2, and the overnight pair of Abhijit Dey and Kaushal Acharjee added another 48 runs before Dey fell to Rasool.

Tripura lost their next five wickets for 39 runs, but a late-order rally led by Manisankar Murasingh staved off a collapse. Murasingh added 48 with Rana Dutta before he fell for 37.

J&K were hit by the wickets of Adil Rishi and Ian Dev Singh but Bandeep Singh and Rasool ensured the side suffered no further damage, reaching 87 for 2 at stumps. Six runs less, and their quotient would have dropped that crucial 0.001 points.

Omar Abdullah, the J&K chief minister, congratulated the team on Twitter: "Congratulations to the J&K cricket team for reaching the quarters of the Ranji trophy. 1st time since 2000 so well done chaps."

J&K will now play Punjab in the quarterfinal at Moti Bagh in Baroda from January 8.