SPORTS | Wednesday, November 25, 2009 | Email | Print | 
Tanmay’s ton gives UP a strong start
PTI | Lucknow
Tanmay Srivastava cracked a well-compiled 109 as Uttar Pradesh produced an impressive batting display to reach a comfortable 300 for four on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Super League Group B match against Delhi here on Tuesday.
Uttar Pradesh, on six points from their earlier three matches, clicked as a batting unit with only in-form opener Shivakant Shukla (11) failing to contribute much.
India ODI player Suresh Raina's return to the home side was immediately felt with the left-handed youngster contributing 69 and sharing a crucial 124-run partnership with Srivastava for the second wicket after the home side was down 34 for one.
Srivastava then shared an 86-run stand for the third wicket with captain Mohammad Kaif who was going strong when he was out for 48.
When stumps were drawn after 82 overs, Parvinder Singh was on 36 and looking well-set for more runs. He was being given company by Bhuvneshwar Kumar on five.
For Delhi, Parvinder Awana and Rajat Bhatia took two wickets apiece for 39 and 42 runs respectively.
Delhi used as many as six bowlers but did not achieve much success. Sumit Narwal, the most impressive Delhi bowler in the tournament so far, remained wicketless but economical conceding just 32 from his 14 overs.
Pacer Pradeep Sangwan gave away 73 runs in his wicketless 16 overs but it was Abhishek Sharma who was the most expensive Delhi bowler bleeding 100 runs from his 20 overs.
Delhi will have to restrict the home team to a reasonable total tomorrow and then think of a much improved batting display than what they did in their last match against Karnataka at home.
That will not be easy as Uttar Pradesh will have the services of India players Praveen Kumar and Rudra Pratap Singh, besides leg-spinner Piyush Chawla.
Delhi's task is cut out as they are without Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma, who were and pacer Ashish Nehra. doing national duty.
Twin tons for Saurashtra
Kolkata: Openers Chirag Pathak and Sagar Jogiyani made hay of a spineless Bengal attack as Saurashtra rode on their twin tons to pile up 372 for three in the Ranji Trophy Super League Group B match at Eden Gardens on Tuesday.
Winning the toss, Bengal decided to field first in the four-day match but their decision boomeranged as the opening duo of Pathak (118) and Jogiyani (103) scored 206 runs for the first wicket. Saurashtra batting mainstays Cheteshwar Pujara (68 n.O.) and Ravindra Jadeja (14 n.O.) remained unbeaten at end of the day one.
Bengal's main bowler Ranadeb Bose (1/99) had a tough time in the middle as the pacer conceded 19 runs in his first over which included a six by an attacking Pathak.
Bose conceded 40 runs in his opening spell, while at the other end Sourav Sarkar (1/48) was no better as former India captain Sourav Ganguly had to step in the eighth over.
Saurashtra openers’ assault did not stop there as they continued to score at a brisk pace and reached 100 in just 19.4 overs.
A diminutive Pathak, who cracked his second first class century, struck 17 boundaries and a six during his 134-ball innings.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Jogiyani, who hit a lofted six off Ganguly, took time to settle down before scoring his maiden first class century.
Email | Print | Rate:
|