Kanwaljit restricts UP

Veteran Hyderabad off spinner Kanwaljit Singh helped restrict Uttar Pradesh on the third day of their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal at Green Park in Kanpur on Saturday. UP, 206 for three overnight in reply to Hyderabad's first innings total of 291, were all out for 362. Hyderabad in their second innings had just about wiped off the first innings deficit by scoring 72 for one by close of play.

The in form NP Singh struck an early vital blow when he bowled Md Kaif. The India batsman was out without adding to his overnight score of 66. The other overnight batsman skipper Gyanendra Pandey went on to make 47 before he was bowled by Kanwaljit Singh. Pandey faced 98 balls and hit seven fours. The innings was kept going by a seventh wicket partnership of 46 runs off 22 overs between wicketkeeper Pradip Yadav (20) and Ashish Winston Zaidi (52). But the persistent Kanwaljit Singh then took three wickets late in the innings to keep the UP lead down to manageable proportions. Zaidi faced 96 balls and hit six fours before he was also one of Kanwaljit's victims. He finished with six for 97 off 48.2 overs.

When Hyderabad batted a second time, they lost Manohar (14) at 29. But A Nandakishore (35) and VVS Laxman (20) by watchful batting added 43 runs off 18.3 overs and were unbeaten at stumps with the match tantalisingly poised.