Uttar Pradesh seems to be making this a habit; at least as far as the ongoing Ranji Trophy Super League final at the Wankhede Stadium is concerned.
Else, how would one explain the fact that they manage to control the proceedings in the first two sessions and keep the pressure on their opponents Delhi only to fritter away their advantage in the day's final session.
The modus operandi of Delhi, the 2005-06 champions, on Friday was a facsimile of what had been the case a day earlier.
Resuming at their comfortable overnight position of 196 for 4, Delhi were dismissed for 290 in their first essay just before the lunch interval, giving their opponents a lead of 52 runs.
The six-time champions added 36 more runs to their overnight score - and Aakash Chopra (102) achieved a much deserved century during that period - before their remaining batsmen were hit by a typhoon named Praveen Kumar (8 for 68).
Kumar trapped Chopra in front in the first over after the second new ball was taken and repeated the trick the very next ball, accounting for gloveman Puneet Bisht (0). Sumit Narwal faced the hat-trick ball and survived a loud shout and overnight batsman Rajat Bhatia (139 not out) went on to complete his century as well but Kumar's intentions were clear by then.
The 21-year-old soon cleaned up Narwal (5) and came back to take two more wickets, that of Pradeep Sangwan (9) and Amit Bhandari (0), both out leg before. Sudeep Tyagi (2 for 63) got Chetanya Nanda (0) to edge one to Suresh Raina at second slip and thereby become the highest wicket-taker in this season with 41 scalps, surpassing Karnataka's R Vinay Kumar (40).
But it was clearly Kumar's day. His impressive figures were the fifth best analysis by a bowler in a Ranji final and the best by a seamer, and also took his tally this season to 36. He was palpably pleased.
"The conditions were conducive, there was considerable movement with the new ball and I also managed to put the ball in the right areas," explained Kumar, who had an eight-wicket match haul in the semi-final win over Saurashtra. Asked if the new ball helped his cause, he replied in the affirmative.
"We had to take the new ball, else they would still be batting," he joked.
"And it is not that they gave their wickets away; instead we got them out." So impressive was Praveen Kumar's performance that he got a few words of appreciation from Delhi bowling coach Manoj Prabhakar as well.
"He knew exactly what he had to do and swung the ball well," said Prabhakar. "He certainly deserves more chances than he is getting at present," he added, probably, hinting at Sunday's meeting to decide the squad for the Commonwealth Bank tri-series in Australia next month.
Kumar, who played a game during the recent ODI series against the visiting Pakistan side, wasn't too forthcoming about his chances, though he looks to be a certainty.
"I've been performing well for the last six matches," said Kumar.
Uttar Pradesh didn't have a good start to their second innings. Tanmay Srivastava, a centurion in the first innings, was run out for just one in the very third over. Rohit Srivastava (18) and Suresh Raina (85) combined well to put on 62 runs for the second wicket before the former edged a Bhatia delivery to Bisht.
Raina and captain Mohammad Kaif (21) put in a 60-run stand for the third wicket to have Uttar Pradesh comfortably placed at 123 for 2 at tea.
However, the post-tea session was again a mayhem that saw them lose four wickets for the addition of just 31 runs.
Kaif was caught by Bisht off Sangwan in the very first over of the third session and Raina, who played an aggressive knock studded with 11 fours and a six, fell soon after, in the same manner (Bisht-Sangwan combine).
Ravikant Shukla was put down by Bhandari off his own bowling when he was yet to open his account. But the batsman replied in kindness to the bowler, edging to Aditya Jain at first slip without bothering to trouble the scorers. And when Satish Dhawan snapped Piyush Chawla at gully off Narwal, U.P. were reduced to 130 for six and the advantage was again handed over to Delhi.
Bhuvanesh Kumar (19) and Amir Khan (4) ensured no further damage was done as U.P. ended the day at 154 for six, ahead by 206 runs with four of their second innings wickets remaining and Delhi bowlers know exactly what their job will be in the first session on Saturday.
"We'll try to get their remaining wickets early on tomorrow," said Sangwan, who has snapped up six wickets in the match so far.
