The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Srivastava, Chawla propel Uttar Pradesh

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Wednesday, Dec 26, 2007
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Srivastava, Chawla propel Uttar Pradesh

Principal Correspondent

Hyderabad struck in the first over of the innings
Chawla was enterprising during his knock

HYDERABAD: The focus was on former India stars Mohd. Kaif and Suresh Raina when Uttar Pradesh elected to bat against Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy super league Group ‘B’ cricket tie here on Tuesday.

But, it was southpaw and opener, Tanmay Srivastava, and Piyush Chawla who pulled their team out of a probable crisis and helped it post a challenging 293 for six at close on the first day at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium (Uppal).

Hyderabad struck in the first over of the innings when medium-pacer S.M. Shoaib had Rohit Srivastava caught behind.

Then Srivastava (81, 10x4, 1x6) and Suresh Raina (35, 5x4) put on 60 runs and kept the pace bowlers at bay in the morning session when there was some moisture in the wicket.

Vishal strikes

Just when Raina was looking dangerous, debutant off-spinner Vishal Sharma bowled him with a beauty — a floater which saw the batsman charging down the wicket only to be completely beaten.

The 20-year-old, B. Com. final year student of Wesley College started off with great promise only to wilt under pressure later as the U.P. batsmen took charge.

Captain Mohd. Kaif (37, 4x4) threatened to play a long innings, but was surprised to be declared leg before wicket to M.P. Arjun.

Soon, Ravikant Shukla was trapped in front by a straighter one from left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha to leave U.P. struggling at 168 for five one hour after the lunch break.

Chawla was joined by Amir Khan (44 batting, 119b, 5x4) and the two put on a 112-run stand which effectively pushed the host on the defensive.

Both complemented each other with some pleasing strokes, particularly square off the wicket.

Chawla was more enterprising (82, 130b, 10 x 4, 1x6), hitting part-time off-spinner Amol Shinde for three exquisite on-side boundaries in one over and later walking down the pitch to loft Ojha over mid-on for a huge six.

Just when Chawla looked set for a century, he could not resist the temptation to hook Shoaib off the first over of the second new ball and was caught at deep fine-leg off a mistimed stroke.

The scores: Uttar Pradesh — 1st innings: R.P. Srivastava c A. Kumar b Shoaib 0, T.M. Srivastava c S.A. Pai b Vishal Sharma 81, S. Raina b Vishal 35, M. Kaif lbw b M.P. Arjun 37, R. Shukla lbw b Ojha 0, P. Chawla c M.P. Arjun b Shoaib 82, Amir (batting) 44, Praveen (batting) 7, Extras (b-2, lb-1, w-1, nb-3): 7; Total (for six wkts. in 90 overs): 293.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-61, 3-141, 4-148, 5-168, 6-280.

Hyderabad bowling: Shoaib 13-1-36-2, M.P. Arjun 20-3-64-1, Vishal 22-3-73-2, Ojha 26-3-83-1, Shinde 6-0-24-0, Shakir 1-0-1-0, Ravi Teja 2-0-9-0.

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