Medium pacer Kunal Yadav triggered a remarkable collapse on the morning of second day while India international Shivam Mavi came back among wickets as hosts Uttar Pradesh took firm control of their sixth-round Ranji Trophy game against Odisha in Meerut on Wednesday.
In reply, a fine century from Priyam Garg and unbeaten 73 by Kolkata Knight Riders batter Rinku Singh helped UP to a 31-run lead at stumps on Day 2 with six more wickets in hand to go for a big first innings total when play resumes on Day 3. Chasing Odisha’s total of 226, Uttar Pradesh reached 257/4 when the stumps were drawn on the second day.
Earlier, resuming on 222 for 5, the visitors could add only four more to their overnight tally as Yadav finished with a five-for in the innings, while Mavi scalped two to skittle the Odisha first innings in no time. Yadav had taken two wickets on Day 1. Yadav (5/47) and Mavi (2/46) hastened Odisha’s downfall on Wednesday morning sharing the remaining five wickets between them.
Garg (122) and Rinku then frustrated Odisha bowlers with a 161-run stand for the fourth wicket to hand Uttar Pradesh the first-innings lead in their Elite Group A encounter at Victoria Park Stadium.
Odisha medium-pacer Suryakant Pradhan trapped both openers Samarth Singh (6) and Dhruv Jurel (44) leg-before wicket before rattling the stumps off rival skipper Karan Sharma (7) to leave UP at a nervy 89/3. However, Garg and Rinku joined force thereafter to push the visitors on the back foot. Garg was run out in the first ball of the last over of the day but by then UP was in the driver’s seat.
Odisha innings folded up quickly on Wednesday morning for 226. Prolific opener Shantanu Mishra (109), who bailed Odisha out on Day 1 with a century, and his unbeaten partner Abhishek Raut (43) both fell after adding just two runs each to their overnight scores.
Brief scores: Odisha 226 all out in 87 overs (S Mishra 109, A Raut 43; K Yadav 5/47). Uttar Pradesh 257/4 (P Garg 122, R Singh 73 batting; S Pradhan 3/49). Match to continue.
