Arunkumar places Karnataka on top

Somasundar and Arunkumar, who had batted dourly for 23 overs while making 34 last evening, were relentless in the battle this morning. The openers were untroubled in their 135-run stand before part-time off spinner Rizwan Shamshad broke the partnership with a long hop. Somasundar (68) pulled a rank short-pitched delivery uppishly and was caught at square leg just a few minutes before lunch.

The other opener Arunkumar, who had already slammed two centuries thisseason, warmed up to the task of registering his third ton. The former India junior opener added 75 runs for the second wicket in the company of Fazal Khaleel.

UP tried every trick in the book, including summoning the second new ball, in an effort to stop Arunkumar from completing his ton, but in vain. His 104 came in 334 minutes and off 279 deliveries. He struck a six off Gyanendra Pandey and nine boundaries before being caught behind off Zaidi.

A little later, Zaidi struck again when Fazal Khaleel (31) inner edged the bowler onto his stumps.

That was UP’s last success of the day as Dravid and Bharadwaj added 63 runs in 102 minutes without ever being in trouble.

SCOREBOARD

Uttar Pradesh (1st innings) 134

Karnataka (1st innings): Sujith Somasundar c Shukla b Shamshad 68, Arunkumar c Mudgal b Zaidi 104, Fazal Khaleel b Zaidi 31, Rahul Dravid batting 40, Vijay Bharadwaj batting 24;

Extras (b4, lb6, nb7): 17.

Total (for 3 wickets in 113 overs, 457 mins): 284

Fall ofwickets: 1-135, 2-210, 3-221.

Bowling: Kamal 25-12-39-0, Zaidi 23-0-89-2, Pandey 28-8-62-0, Saif 10-5-17-0, Shamshad 15-2-34-1, Yadav 4-0-10-0, Shukla 8-0-23-0