Ranji Trophy: Uttar Pradesh take three points after first-innings lead over Madhya Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh walked away with three points owing to their first innings lead against Madhya Pradesh.

Kanpur: Dec 24, 2013

Uttar Pradesh walked away with three points owing to their first innings lead in a Group B Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh that ended in a draw on the fourth and final day at Kanpur on Wednesday.

Chasing a target of 314 runs, Madhya Pradesh were 140 for seven in their second innings at the close of play with Salman Baig (31 not out) and Anurag Singh (11 not out) in the middle.

Resuming at 78 for three, Uttar Pradesh had declared their second innings at 178 for five with India international Suresh Raina hitting a classy 134-ball 84, laced with 11 fours, while ‘old war horse’ Mohammad Kaif just falling one run short of his half-century at 49.

For Madhya Pradesh, medium pacers Ishwar Pandey and Puneet Datey accounted for two wickets each.

In their second essay, Madhya Pradesh got off to a poor start in their run-chase as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Seamer Amit Mishra and medium pacer Ankit Rajpoot sent back both the openers Zafar Ali (12) and Jalaj Saxena (20) inside the 11th over with score at 36.

Imtiaz Ahmed soon made it 36 for three when he had wicketkeeper Naman Ojha (3) trapped leg before.

Mohnish Mishra (18), skipper Devendra Bundela (11), Anand Bais (16) and Shubham Sharma (5) all found the going tough against the duo of Mishra and Imtiaz as they were left reeling at 106 for seven.

Madhya Pradesh stared at a humiliating defeat but Baig and Singh waged a grim battle to rescue the side from a precarious situation.

For Uttar Pradesh, Mishra was the most successful bowler with figures of three for 17 while Imtiaz picked up two wickets.

Brief scores:

Uttar Pradesh 250 and 178 for 5 decl. (Suresh Raina 84, Mohammad Kaif 49; Ishwar Pandey 2 for 32) drew with Madhya Pradesh 115 & 140 for 7 in 64 overs (Salman Baig 31 not out; Amit Mishra 3/17).