UP strongly placed, Saurab leads Delhi's reply

Chennai, Jan 3 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh were in a strong position against Gujarat, forcing an overall lead of 252 runs, despite slumping to 168 for six at stumps in their second innings on the second day of the Under-17 cricket championship for the Vijay Merchant trophy here today.

UP bowled out Gujarat for 129, after the latter resumed their first innings at the overnight score of 57 for three. The Gujarat batsmen, barring P Panchal (32) and R Shah (23) crumbled against UP's leg-spinner Md Khalid, who claimed five wickets for 38 runs.

For UP, V Sharma top- scored with 50 off 102 balls, studded with nine fours. With A Dikshit (37), Sharma added 57 runs for the fourth wicket, off 21 overs.

In the other match, chasing Bengal's strong first innings score of 350 in 127.4 overs, Delhi were 87, losing one wicket, at stumps in 54 overs with opener Saurab Passi, scoring an unbeaten 61 off 173 balls with the help of nine fours and a six.

Bengal, resuming at their overnight score of 261 for six, were helped along by Anup Barik (33, 60 balls, four fours, one six) and his ninth wicket stand of 40 runs off 61 balls with S I Murmu (27).

Delhi's captain and left arm medium pacer Pradeep Sangmar claimed six wickets for 76 runs in 25.4 overs.

Brief Scores: UP 213 and 168-6 ( V Sharma 50, J Karia 3-43) vs Gujarat 129 (P Panchal 32, R Shah 23, Md Khalid 5-38).

Bengal 350 (Abhishek Das 65, A Yadav 78, Anup Barik 33, S A Murmu 27, Pradeep Sangmal 6-76) vs Delhi 87-1 (Saurab Passi batting-61).

UNI