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Seamers call the shots

Special Correspondent

Baroda: Seamers exploited favourable conditions at the Motibag Palace Ground in the Ranji Trophy semifinal between Uttar Pradesh and Saurashtra here on Saturday.

First Saurashtra’s Sandeep Maniar, (six for 88) Kaniaya Vaghela and Sandip Jobanputra and thereafter Uttar Pradesh’s Pravin Kumar, Sudeep Tyag and Bhuvanesh Kumar caused the downfall of 18 batsmen, but the rival captains Mohammad Kaif (80, 199m, 122b, 13x4) and Jaydev Shah (57, 116m, 72b, 8x4) showed individual brilliance to score half centuries. Though shot out for 188 in a little under 52 overs, Uttar Pradesh powered its way back to capture eight Saurashtra wickets for 116 in 34 overs.

The events that unfolded on the opening day of the five-day match just about mirrored the extent to which India’s first class cricketers are vulnerable when the ball gains height, moves a bit in the air and off the pitch.

For Uttar Pradesh, Kaif and Ravikant Shukla demonstrated utmost caution and displayed the value of a solid and firm defence. Kaif batted for a little over 3 hours before Jaydev Shah brought an end to his counterpart’s innings with a spectacular diving one handed effort at cover.

Shah took a bold and brave decision to open Saurashtra’s innings to take on Pravin Kumar and Tyagi. Shah looked in great touch before Tyagi trapped him leg before. Saurashtra crumbled thereafter as Pravin Kumar and Tyagi shared the spoils.

Uttar Pradesh — 1st innings: R. Prakash c Jogiyani b Maniar 3, Amir Khan c Jogiyani b Maniar 4, S. Raina c Jogiyani b Maniar 2, M. Kaif c Shah b Maniar 80, R. Shukla b Jobanputra 29, P. Chawla lbw b Jobanputra 0, R. Elahi c Jogiyani b Maniar 0, P. Kumar b Vaghela 11, B. Kumar (not out) 33, P. Gupta c Pujara b Maniar 6, S. Tyagi lbw b Jobanputra 0, Extras (b-4, lb-9, nb-6, w-1): 20, Total (in 51.5 overs): 188.

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-5, 3-15, 4-69, 5-69, 6-79, 7-110, 8-159, 9-173.

Saurashtra bowling: Jobanputra 18.5-1-60-3, Maniar 23-2-88-6, Vaghela 6-2-17-1, Dhruv 4-0-10-0.

Saurashtra — 1st innings: K. Vaghela c Kaif b P. Kumar 0, J. Shah lbw b Tyagi 57, S. Kotak lbw b P. Kumar 0, C. Pujara b Tyagi 2, S. Jogiyani b P. Kumar 14, N. Rathod c Shukla b B. Kumar 4, F. Bhambaniya lbw b B. Kumar 0, R. Dhruv (batting) 21, K. Makwana b Tyagi 0, S. Jobanputra (batting) 15, Extras (b-1, lb-2): 3, Total (for eight wkts. in 34 overs): 116.

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-4, 3-7, 4-38, 5-61, 6-61, 7-87, 8-88.

Uttar Pradesh bowling: P. Kumar 11-4-35-3, Tyagi 11-2-43-3, B. Kumar 6-0-23-2, Chawla 6-2-12-0.

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