Karnataka [ Images ] debutant Hosagivappa Sharath claimed five wickets, including that of Suresh Raina [ Images ], before Mohammad Kaif bailed Uttar Pradesh [ Images ] out of trouble with an unbeaten century on the first day of their Group B Ranji Trophy match in Meerut, on Saturday.
Besides the left-handed Raina, the 19-year-old medium pacer sent back opener Ali Murtuza, and middle-order batsmen Parvinder Singh and Arish Alam after his team chose to field at the Bhamashah Stadium in Meerut. He had figures of five for 44.
K P Appana picked up two wickets while there was one for Stuart Binny as Uttar Pradesh finished the day at 245 for eight in 82 overs.
India [ Images ] discard Kaif was the lone Uttar Pradesh to shine on a day when most of the other front-line batsmen struggled to get going.
Kaif remained unbeaten on 105 when stumps were drawn, while Imtiaz Ahmed was yet to open his account.
Kaif hit nine fours and a six during his 217-ball knock, and got support from Bhuvneshwar Kumar (36), Alam (27) and Piyush Chawla who scored 23.
Sent into bat, the hosts were in trouble straightaway losing Murtaza for a team score of seven, and were reeling at 40 for four by the 16th over.
Kaif and Alam stemmed the slide with a half-century stand before Uttar Pradesh lost three more wickets, which handed the advantage to the visitors.
But an 83-run partnership for the eight wicket between Kaif and Kumar helped the hosts stage another fightback.
Brief scores:
Uttar Pradesh 1st innings 245 for eight in 82 overs (M Kaif 105 not out; H S Sharath 5/44) vs Karnataka.
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