Unbeaten half-centuries by middle order batsmen Kanwaljeet Singh (82) and M M Dar (62) helped Jammu and Kashmir register a healthy 243 for the loss of two wickets on the first day of their four-day Ranji Trophy Plate Group match against Saurashtra at Rajkot on Saturday.

Jammu and Kashmir opted to bat first after winning the toss. Openers S B Shaikh and F G Hazari laid the foundation by adding 83 runs for the first wicket, before Shaikh was out for 41.

Hazari then added another 22 runs for second wicket with Kanwaljeet Singh, before he was dismissed for 51.

However, this proved to be the last success of the day for the hosts as Kanwaljeet Singh and Dar added 138 runs for the unbeaten third wicket.

At close, Singh was unbeaten on 82 after facing 201 balls, while his partner was not out on 62.

For Saurashtra, medium pacer Sandeep Maniar took both the wickets to fall conceding 61 runs.

Brief scores: J & K first innings: 243 for two off 90 overs (K Singh not out 82, M M Dar not out 62, S B Shaikh 41, F G Hazari 51, S Maniar two for 61) vs Saurashtra.