UP miss out on advantage, allow Odisha score 256

LUCKNOW: Former champions Uttar Pradesh bowlers failed to perform consistently despite having a control over proceedings against hosts Odisha on the opening day of their four day Elite Group C Ranji Trophy match at Bhubaneswar on Monday.

Ankit Rajpoot (3/61), Yash Dayal (3/62) and Akshdeep Nath (2/16) made Rajasthan struggle at 5/107 much before lunch, but thereafter they lost their control, and allowed hosts to post 256 in their innings, at the KIIT Cricket Stadium. Ankit cleaned up opener Anurag Sarangi (6) on the third delivery of his first over, before shattering the stumps of other opener Sandeep Pattanaik on duck and let the scoreboard read just 2/10. A 45-run third wicket partnership between Govind Poddar (39, 42b, 9x4) and Subhransu Senapati though didn’t make much of a difference as Yash, Akshdeep and Ankit then took a wicket each to see Rajasthan reeling at 5/107.

But a 67-run sixth wicket stand between Subhransu and Sujit Lenka (46, 98b, 4x4) and then a 52-stand between Subhransu and Debabrata Pradhan (24, 50b, 4x4) helped the side cross 200-run mark. Before being caught by Suresh Raina off Ankit, energetic Subhransu smashed 136-ball 87, which contained 14 hits to the fence.

All-rounder Rajesh Mohanty too scored a quick-fire 23, which came off just 15 balls with the help of three fours and a six. Leftarm spinner Saurabh Kumar too had two for 58. Uttar Pradesh too had a shaky start as opener Upendra Yadav (1) was trapped leg before by Basant Mohanty in the third over. But thereafter, dashing opener Madhav Kaushik (16) and Mohd Saif (24) stitched together unbeaten 41-run for the second wicket as Up finished the day at 42/1 in 18 overs. With a strong batting line-up, Uttar Pradesh still trail of 214 runs in the first innings and they would be hoping for their batting to come good when the second day action begins on Tuesday.

REDDY’S KNOCK TAKES HYDERABAD TO 249/3

TIRUNELVELI: Skipper Akshath Reddy led from the front with a superb unbeaten 114 to help Hyderabad make 249 for 3 to take the honours on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group ‘B’ match against Tamil Nadu here on Monday.

The visiting team elected to bat after winning the toss and suffered an early blow when Tanmay Agarwal (10) was out, edging one to wicketkeeper N Jagadeesan off M Mohammed in the sixth over.

The talented Rohit Rayudu walked in at the fall of Tanmayand pottered around for 54 balls for 13 before being caught by B Anirudh Sitaram.

Mystery bowler C V Varun, making his debut, was introduced as early as in the seventh over but he couldn’t do any damage as the rival batsmen negotiated him well.

Akshath played himself in and found an able partner in

Himalay Agarwal (29).

The two were involved in a half-century partnership to steady the Hyderabad innings.

Himalay fell to K Vignesh, who was returning to the side after recovering from an injury.

Then came the big partnership of the day as Akshath and B Sandeep (73 batting) joined forces.

The two played deliveries on merit and also despatched the bad balls to the boundary.

While the captain hit 14 fours and a six, Sandeep too looked to score of every given opportunity and slammed 10 fours and a six.

Akshath brought up his ton with a sweep off Rahil Shah in the 83rd over.

In another game, Yusuf Pathan made 99 runs to help Baroda to 322 for nine on the first day.