UP salvage a draw

With the match taking unpredictable twists and turns right until the penultimate day,the final day of the Ranji Trophy clash between Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra produced yet another twist as Uttar Pradesh managed to keep the Maharashtra bowlers at bay to salvage a draw.

With the match taking unpredictable twists and turns right until the penultimate day,the final day of the Ranji Trophy clash between Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra produced yet another twist as Uttar Pradesh managed to keep the Maharashtra bowlers at bay to salvage a draw.

Resuming from their overnight score of 41 for no loss,both night watchman Praveen Kumar and opener Tanmay Srivastava began taking the score ahead steadily as they shared a first wicket partnership of 89 runs off 118 balls.

The bowlers finally managed to break the partnership when a screamer from Kiran Adhav sent Kumars stumps cartwheeling. Two wickets followed in quick succession – Srivastava and Suresh Raina fell to leave the visitors at 122 for 3.

UP skipper Mohammad Kaif too fell after scoring just 20 runs. It was then that Parvinder Singh and Piyush Chawla decided to rebuild the innings. Both batsmen unleashed a flurry of fast paced shots that not only accelerated the innings but also put Maharashtra on the backfoot.

It was again Adhav who came to the rescue of the home side when he scalped the prize wicket of Parvinder Singh just after he had completed his century which saw a sparkling display of fine batting,with 13 fours and one six. Chawla freely hit the bowlers to all ends of the park,stroking eight boundaries and three sixes. It was only after Singh was dismissed that he switched roles and took on a defensive stance to ensure a draw.

Uttar Pradesh ended the day at 391 runs for the loss of seven wickets,with both Piyush Chawla and Amir Khan remaining unbeaten on 82 and 15 runs respectively.

Brief scores:
Maharashtra 1st innings: 292,2nd innings: 338/9 declared

Uttar Pradesh 1st innings; 208,2nd innings: 391/7 (P Singh 100,P Chawla 82,t Srivastava 45)

Bowling: K Adhav: 45 overs,161 for 2,J Patil: 12 overs,58 for 2.

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