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Praveen’s haul puts UP on top
Maharashtra will have the consolation of registering their highest first innings total at home this season, but they will also rue succumbing to Praveen Kumar (6-68) and RP Singh (2-50) in their clash against Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday.
Maharashtra will have the consolation of registering their highest first innings total at home this season, but they will also rue succumbing to Praveen Kumar (6-68) and RP Singh (2-50) in their clash against Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday.
Despite offering several half chances and innumerable flying edges, Maharashtra seemed to make a statement as they posted 292 on Day One.
The early morning dew, a lost toss and three slips and a gully to begin with are worrying symbols for a side sent in to bat. Despite a watchful beginning, Maharashtra lost two wickets in the first session before limping back to normalcy.
Skipper Harshad Khadiwale was the first to go, caught fishing outside off stump against Bhuvneshwar Kumar. His partner Rohan Bhosale got out in similar fashion off Praveen to leave the team at a precarious 45 for two. Sangram Atitkar and Kedar Jadhav ensured they didn’t repeat the mistakes committed by the opening duo. Both displayed deft footwork in their combative innings of 55 and 49 respectively.
Atitkar, who was dropped against Karnataka, showed controlled aggression and added 106 runs with Jadhav. The duo refused to give in to the UP seamers, who peppered them with a bouncer in almost every over. Atitkar was sublime in his ground shots. He sent some screaming cover drives off RP Singh and even tonked Praveen Kumar over his head.
Jadhav, who started slowly, was taking a toll on the UP bowlers when misfortune struck. RP teased Jadhav with a fullish delivery outside off and surprised him with a full toss in the next. The batsman was a fraction late with his shot and Suresh Raina took a simple catch at short leg.
Maharashtra suffered two serious blows when Praveen uprooted Ankit Bawne’s stumps and followed it up with Atitkar’s wicket. The hosts pulled back through Rohit Motwani (57) and Ganesh Gaikwad (63). The two stitched together 107 in another useful partnership to bolster the team’s total.
