UP inch closer to quarterfinal berth
Batsmen helped hosts take a comprehensive 202-run first innings lead against Assam on day two
LUCKNOW: Unlike previous years where Uttar Pradesh missed out on the opportunities despite having advantages, the side under the new leadership of Akshdeep Nath have been doing wonders in this season of Ranji Trophy.
Continuing their good form with the willow even on Tuesday, UP batsmen once again lived up to the expectations, helping former champions and hosts take a comprehensive 202run first innings lead against Assam in Kanpur in their Elite Group C encounter.
After some early exploits by top order batsmen like Umang Sharma, Mohammad Saif, batsmen in the middle order, including skipper Akshdeep, Priyam Garg, Rinku Singh and keeperbatsman Upendra Yadav also came up with fine knocks to help the side finish the second day of the four-day tie at 377/5 in 116 overs in reply to Assam’s first innings total of 175.
Having scored over 600 runs this season in as many as eight matches so far, Aligarh’s Rinku Singh slammed his fourth halfcentury of the season to help the side fly high in the last league match of the season in which even three points would be good enough to take UP into the quarterfinals.
Rinku’s unbeaten 143-ball 96, which contained eight fours and a six, at the Green Park Stadium, remained the best innings of the day for the hosts after skipper Akashdeep Nath (81, 143b, 10x4) striking his third half-century of the season.
Certainly, it was a day of Uttar Pradesh batsmen after they resumed at the overnight score of 64/1 with Umang and Saif at the crease. Though Umang didn’t last long and was trapped leg before wicket in the seventh over after making 38, which included five hits to the fence, other batsmen continued to tease Assam bowlers with their fine batting.
Saif made 113-ball 58 with the help of six fours, whereas Priyam before being caught by Kunal Saikia off Gokul Sharma, struck 44 in 87 balls with the help of six fours.
Rinku, in association with Upendra, added an unbeaten 118 runs for the sixth wicket and the two kept defying the Assam bowlers with a series of brilliant hits around the ropes.
A consistent performer with gloves as well as willow this season, young keeper-batsman Upendra kept his cool and hit the ball on its merit. His unbeaten 83-ball 38 included five boundaries.
Assam skipper Amit Sinha pressed as many as seven bowlers, including himself in the
action, but none of them couldn’t make any serious impact on UP batsmen. Arup Das, Ranjeet Mali, Mukhar Hussain, Jitumoni Kalita and Gokul Sharma have so far taken a wicket each.
With over 200-run first
innings lead, Uttar Pradesh would now be aiming to post 150 more runs on the board to take their lead to beyond 350 runs on the penultimate day on Wednesday so that they could press for an outright win on the last day of the match on Thursday.