The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Good knock by Mohd. Kaif

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Wednesday, Dec 27, 2006
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Good knock by Mohd. Kaif

Special Correspondent

CAPTAIN'S KNOCK: Mohammad Kaif lit the day up with a fine innings. — Photo: V. Ganesan

CHENNAI: Uttar Pradesh ended day two of the fifth round Ranji Trophy Super League Group `A' match here at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium at 204 for four in response to Tamil Nadu's 325.

Captain Mohammad Kaif lit Tuesday up with 88 off 161 balls (12x4, 2x6) after his side had been delayed in the morning by a ninth wicket partnership of 61.

Tamil Nadu off-spinner Ashwin, who had been dropped off the last ball on Monday, made a spirited unbeaten 42 off 69 balls with eight fours while R. Prasanna added fourteen to his overnight score. Uttar Pradesh medium pacer Praveen Kumar dismissed Prasanna and Jesuraj off consecutive balls to finish with four wickets.

Early setback

Uttar Pradesh lost opener R.P. Srivastava early. Kaif and Shivakant Shukla put on 127 for the second wicket. The track was at its best for batting on Tuesday. Kaif constructed a typically professional innings that had its moments of inspiration. He kept the good deliveries out; anything loose was punished. A short-arm pull off Yomahesh to bring up his 50 caught the eye for judgement of length and balance.

Shukla spent a minute short of four hours for 32; Kaif was more vigorous. Left-armer R. Naresh gave Tamil Nadu a double breakthrough after tea by trapping both Kaif and Shukla in front. But, Suresh Raina drove on the up through cover skilfully to punish Tamil Nadu for failing to run him out.

Wednesday's first session is crucial. Tamil Nadu's bowlers can start by cutting down on the number of no-balls: Yomahesh had nine, Naresh seven.

The scores:

Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: S. Anirudha c Shukla b R.P. Singh 4, M. Vijay c R.P. Srivastava b S. Srivastava 7, R. Prasanna lbw b Kumar 134, S. Badrinath b R.P. Singh 22, S. Sharath lbw b Kumar 25, R. Sathish c Raina b Kumar 32, R. Naresh b Murtaza 7, V. Yomahesh lbw b R.P. Singh 26, V. Kumar c A. Khan b R.P. Singh 2, R. Ashwin (not out) 42, R. Jesuraj lbw b Kumar 0, Extras (b-5, lb-4, nb-14, w-1) 24; Total (in 106.4 overs) 325.

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-16, 3-49, 4-87, 5-140, 6-167, 7-257, 8-264, 9-325.

Uttar Pradesh bowling: R.P. Singh 26-2-91-4, S. Srivastava 23-5-72-1, Kumar 23.4-4-58-4, R.P. Srivastava 3-1-10-0, Chawla 11-5-31-0, Murtaza 17-2-44-1, Raina 2-0-5-0, Kaif 1-0-5-0.

Uttar Pradesh — 1st innings: R.P. Srivastava c Varun Kumar b Yomahesh 4, S. Shukla lbw b Naresh 32, M. Kaif lbw b Naresh 88, S. Raina (batting) 33, P. Chawla c Sathish b Ashwin 15, A. Murtaza (batting) 4, Extras (lb-3, nb-19, w-6): 28; Total (for four wickets in 71 overs) 204.

Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-133, 3-153, 4-191.

Tamil Nadu bowling: Yomahesh 16-5-47-1, Jesuraj 13-6-32-0, Naresh 14-3-40-2, Sathish 2-0-9-0, Ashwin 21-5-61-1, Badrinath 5-1-12-0.

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