Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up as many as eight wickets for 41 runs on his first-class return on a green Green Park pitch in Kanpur. Yet, Bengal have their nose ahead in this Ranji Trophy clash over Uttar Pradesh (UP), thanks to their lower-order batsmen.
Pacer Mohammed Kaif, who struck with the ball earlier, top-scored with an unbeaten 45 at No.9 and stitched a crucial 52-run stand with No.10 and debutant Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal (20). That helped stretch Bengal’s first-innings total to 188 with a handy lead of 128 on Saturday.
It, however, didn’t look possible at all when Bhuvneshwar reduced them to 110/8 in
the morning session. UP though have begun well in their second innings with openers Samarth Singh (21) and Aryan Juyal (20) taking the team total to 46/0 at stumps on Day 2. Bengal still lead by 82.
Brief scores: Uttar Pradesh 60 & 46/0. Bengal 188 (Md. Kaif 45; B. Kumar 8/41). At stumps, Day 2.
