PANAJI
Spin dictated proceedings on the second day at the ongoing Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match between Uttar Pradesh and Goa at Green Park Stadium, Kanpur on Monday. 14 wickets fell, all to the slower bowlers, where ball dominated the bat throughout the day. The hosts, Uttar Pradesh are 140 runs in front with six wickets in hand and the match beguilingly poised.
Resuming at 43 for no loss, the visiting Goa side could add only 18 runs, before Suyash Prabhudessai was dismissed for 19. His opening 61-run alliance with Shivendra Bhujbal, who top-scored for Goa with 44, was the only meaningful partnership for the visitors in the innings. Save for young all-rounder, Yash Kasvankar who made 36, none of the other Goa batters made a contribution worthy of a mention. The visitors, who ended the opening day on the front foot, collapsed rather meekly for 164 in 61.3 overs to concede a first innings lead of 38 runs.
Leggie Zeeshan Ansari was the wrecker-in-chief for Uttar Pradesh with impressive 5-45 returns, his maiden five-for in a nascent First Class career. Spin claimed the other five wickets to fall as well.
Goa swung fortunes back in their favour, with Yash Kasvankar showcasing his all-round skills with his offbreaks claiming both the home side openers, Abhishek Goswami and Madhav Kaushik for golden ducks. At tea, Uttar Pradesh were 27-2 in 12 overs with captain and wicketkeeper, Aryan Juyal on 20 and Karan Sharma on 7 battling on a sticky wicket.
Par to the course, Goa employed a five-bowler spin attack that provided ample assistance to the slower bowlers. At stumps, Uttar Pradesh crawled to 102-4 in 38 overs with Aryan Juyal playing a captain’s knock with an unbeaten 60 (113b, 5x4) and Kartik Yadav on 1 for company. Karan Sharma who compiled 31, forged a crucial 87-run (193 balls) third-wicket stand with his captain Juyal, which could prove the difference in the outcome of the match.
BRIEF SCORES
Uttar Pradesh, 1st innings: 202 in 71 overs (Rinku Singh 118*, Yash Kasvankar 5-86); Goa, 1st innings: 164 in 61.3 overs (Shivendra Bhujbal 44, Zeeshan Ansari 5-45); Uttar Pradesh, 2nd innings: 102-4 in 38 overs (Aryan Juyal 60*, Yash Kasvankar 2-27)
Uttar Pradesh lead Goa by 140 runs with 6 wickets remaining
