UP in command after dismissing Services for 164

Ghaziabad: India discards Rudra Pratap Singh and Piyush Chawla took three wickets apiece as Uttar Pradesh took control of the proceedings dismissing minnows Services for a meagre 164 in a group B encounter of the Ranji Trophy at the Mohan Meakins Cricket ground here on Friday.

In reply, UP reached 86 for three in 38 overs, needing another 79 runs to surpass Services` first innings total but the hosts will be aiming for an outright victory. After winning the toss, the UP bowlers took wickets at regular intervals as none of the Services batsmen reached half-century. The three 30-plus scores for Services came from Anshul Gupta (33, 5x4), Yashpal Singh (30, 4x4, 1x6) and Suraj Yadav (31 no). Anshul and Yashpal who hit nine boundaries and a six in between them were guilty of throwing it away after getting set. Apart from RP and Chawla, medium pacer Amit Mishra (2/27) also dealt a couple of telling blows by removing No 3 Nakul Verma and skipper Rajat Paliwal in quick succession. While batting, UP played cautiously as they consumed 38 overs while making 86. Mukul Dagar (25) and Digvijay Singh (36 batting), playing his first match after three years, added 44 runs for the first wicket before medium pacer Shadab Nazar induced an edge off burly Dagar`s bat. Nazar then clean bowled Mohammed Kaif (6) while seamer Nishan Singh cleaned up Prashant Gupta (4). Brief Scores: Services 164 in 45.2 overs (Anshul Gupta 33, Yashpal Singh 30, RP Singh 3/38, Piyush Chawla 3/62). UP 86/3 (Digvijay Singh 36 batting, Mukul Dagar 25, Shadab Nazar 2/23).