Gurkeerat gets season's first double, UP's young guns hit three tons

Punjab's middle order piled on the runs on day two in Mohali, crushing the Railways attack under the weight of a total of 604 for 5 declared. Among the runs was Gurkeerat Singh, who registered the first double-century of the season, and wicketkeeper Gitansh Khera who finished on 102 not out. Gurkeerat's ton came in impressively quick time, too, and he finished 201 not out when the declaration came, off 207 balls with 25 fours and five sixes. Mandeep Singh added 12 to his overnight score of 100 not out, while the other overnight batsman Uday Kaul also went to triple-digits, with 112. The only middle-order batsman to miss out was Yuvraj Singh, who popped a return catch to legspinner Karn Sharma on 23.

Railways' openers, Saurabh Wakaskar and Ashish Singh, had to see out six overs leading up to stumps, and they did so successfully.

Uttar Pradesh 656 for 5 (Saif 198, Sarfaraz 155, Shaukat 128) v Madhya Pradesh
Scorecard

Centuries from Almas Shaukat, Mohammad Saif and Sarfaraz Khan lifted Uttar Pradesh to a commanding position, as the team compiled 656 for 5 by stumps on day two against Madhya Pradesh.

Shaukat, the 19-year-old batsman who scored a ton on his first-class debut on the first day, did not last long in the second, as he was trapped lbw by Jalaj Saxena for 128. However, UP continued to pile on the runs as Saif and Sarfaraz joined hands for a fourth-wicket association which yielded 287 runs. The pair batted together for 53 overs, helping UP close in on the 600-run mark. The 17-year-old Sarfaraz was the more aggressive of the two, striking 15 fours and four sixes during his career-best 155. Saif, playing only his second first-class match, hit 18 fours and one six during his knock, but fell two runs short of a double-century, as Saxena removed both batsmen in successive overs towards the end of the day.

Eklavya Dwivedi (28) and Piyush Chawla (25), though, held firm for the last 15 overs of the day to ensure UP did not lose any more ground.

Andhra 213 for 4 (Bhui 103, Kaif 89*, Sandhu 3-45) v Mumbai
Scorecard

Only 26 overs of play were possible in Vizianagaram, with Ricky Bhui's century helping Andhra inch to 213 for 4 against Mumbai. Scoring at two an over, Andhra were buoyed by a 173-run partnership for the third wicket between Bhui and the captain Mohammad Kaif. Bhui hit 13 fours and two sixes for his 103, but was dismissed by Balwinder Sandhu in the 12th over of the day. Kaif, though, remained patient and was unbeaten on 89 off 311 deliveries.

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