Ranji Trophy: Uttar Pradesh in command against Kerala

Alappuzha: Captain Aryan Juyal's unbeaten hundred and a five-wicket haul by Ankit Rajpoot put Uttar Pradesh (UP) in command against Kerala on the third day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match here on Sunday.

UP, who bagged first innings lead of 59, were 219/1 when bad light ended play on the penultimtae day of the contest. They have an overall lead of 278.

Juyal (115 batting) and Samarth Singh (43) added 89 for the opening wicket. Pruyam Garg (49 batting) and Juyal further consolidated their position with an unbroken 130-run stand.

The 22-year-old Juyal nothed up his second first-class hundred.

Earlier, right-arm pacer Rajpoot claimed all the four remaining wickets as Kerala collapsed from 220/6 to 243 in quick time in the morning session. Shreyas Gopal fell for his overnight score of 36, while Jalaj Saxena (7) could add only one more to his tally.

Ankit Rajpoot picked up his ninth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. Photo: Special Arrangement

Basil Thampi was cleaned up for two, while Visakh Chandran (5) was the last wicket to fall as the Kerala innings folded up in 74 overs. M D Nidheesh remained unbeaten on 15 from 12 balls.

This was the 30-year-old Rajpoot's ninth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav picked up 3/68.

Brief scores: UP 302 and 219/1 in 62 overs (Aryan Juyal 115 batting, Priyam Garg 49 batting, Samarth Singh 43) vs Kerala 243 in 74 overs (Vishnu Vinod 74; Ankit Rajpoot 5/64, Kuldeep Yadav 3/68).

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