Uttar Pradesh openers managed a century-plus stand to help the hosts put up a fighting 169 for two against Railways on Day 2 of the Group B Ranji Trophy cricket match here today.
Responding to Railways' 375 in the first innings, the Praveen Kumar-led UP were bolstered by a 145-run opening partnership between Tanmay Srivastava (75 not out) and Almas Shaukat (76), but the hosts still trail by 206 runs.
The UP bowlers also made it count to restrict Railways to the current score after the visitors started the day on 316 for five.
Praveen, Ankit Rajput and Piyush Chawla picked up 2 wickets each after Kuldeep Yadav had struck thrice yesterday. Sharing the new ball with Praveen, debutant Israr Azim also chipped in with a wicket.
For Railways, after batsman Ashish Singh's ton on the opening day Arindam Ghosh scored a fifty while medium-pacer Ranjit Mali struck twice to make it count.
But it remains a long battle for the hosts, who are banking on their middle-order to cross the mountain of runs posted by Railways.
Brief Scores:
Railways 375 all out in 101.3 overs (Ashish Singh 101, Faiz Ahmed 74; Kuldeep Yadav 3-64)
Uttar Pradesh 169/2 in 71 overs (Tanmay Srivastava 75 not out, Almas Shaukat 75; Ranjit Mali 2-61).
