Rinku Singh and Nitish Rana powered Uttar Pradesh to a commanding position against Punjab with entertaining fifties on day three of their Ranji Trophy Group C match here on Monday. After opener Madhav Kaushik’s career-best 163, the visitors came up with four more half-centuries to declare their first innings for a massive 556/9, taking a lead of 346 runs. At stumps, Punjab were struggling at 49/1, trailing by 297 runs. The Kolkata Knight Riders duo of Rana and Rinku laid the foundation with a crucial 120-run partnership for the third wicket.
Rana struck an aggressive 66 off 106 balls, hitting 11 fours, while Rinku made 68 off 131 balls, with eight fours and a six.
Saurabh Kumar joined the onslaught with a brisk 67-ball 69, smashing three sixes and five fours, while Shivam Sharma contributed an unbeaten 50 off 58 balls, including four sixes and two fours, to further frustrate the Punjab attack.
Harshal, Yuzi lift Haryana past MP
In Indore, Harshal Patel’s unbeaten 72 at No. 9 and Yuzvendra Chahal’s gritty 27 off 142 balls helped Haryana secure a vital first-innings lead over Madhya Pradesh.
Responding to MP’s 308, Haryana ended the day at 431/9, with Patel still at the crease alongside last man Aman Kumar (4).
Opener Lakshay Dalal hit his maiden century (105 off 271 balls), while Dheeru Singh fell just short of three figures with a well-crafted 94.
Himanshu Rana (90) also missed his hundred in the nineties, but Dalal and Dheeru’s 143-run partnership for the fourth wicket laid a solid foundation.
However, a collapse ensued before Patel steadied the innings with his resilient knock.
For MP, left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya was the standout bowler, finishing with 4/117.
Kerala fight back after Porel High 5
In Kolkata, Bengal pacer Ishan Porel took 5/83 to secure his fifth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, reducing Kerala to 83/5.
However, Kerala’s middle-order, led by seasoned campaigner Jalaj Saxena, staged a resilient recovery to reach 267/7 at the Jadavpur Salt Lake Campus ground.
Saxena’s fighting 84 off 162 balls, alongside a determined 64 from Salman Nizar, added 140 for the seventh wicket, frustrating Bengal’s bowlers.
Nizar, who faced 205 deliveries, was accompanied by wicketkeeper-batter Mohammed Azharuddeen (30 off 48 balls) at close of play.
Porel’s disciplined bowling proved effective on a flat pitch, where he dismissed Kerala’s new signing Baba Aparajith for a golden duck and skipper Sachin Baby for 12.
Ton-up Mayank leads Karnataka to big lead
In Patna, veteran Mayank Agarwal came up with his 18th first-class century, 105, while Manish Pandey made a brisk 56 (55b) to help Karnataka overcome a difficult start to take first innings lead over Bihar.
In reply to Bihar’s 143, Karnataka ended the day for 287/7.
Brief Scores:
In Mullanpur: Punjab 210 and 49/1; 19 overs. Uttar Pradesh 556/9 declared; 141.1 overs (Madhav Kaushik 163, Saurabh Kumar 69, Rinku Singh 68, Nitish Rana 66, Shivam Sharma 50 batting).
In Indore: Madhya Pradesh 308. Haryana 431/9; 150.5 overs (Lakshay Dalal 105, Dheeru Singh 94, Himanshu Rana 90, Harshal Patel 72 batting; Kumar Kartikeya 4/117).
In Kolkata: Kerala 267/7; 102 overs (Jalaj Saxena 84, Salman Nizar 64 batting, Mohammed Azharuddeen 30 batting; Ishan Porel 5/83) vs Kerala.
In Patna: Bihar 143. Karnataka 287/7; 51 overs (Mayank Agarwal 105, Manish Pandey 56; Himanshu Singh 4/51).
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