Uttar Pradesh posted a decent 232 for four on the opening day of their crucial Ranji Trophy 'Elite' Group 'A' match against Baroda at the IPCL Grounds in Vadodara on Wednesday.
Electing to bat after winning the toss, Uttar Pradesh were reeling at 73 for 2 but a 92-run partnership for the third wicket and a 58-run unbeaten partnership for the fifth wicket enabled them to cross the 200-run mark.
The wicket had some grass on it and the Baroda seamers made the most of it.
Irfan Pathan Sr took the wicket of Rohit Prakash even as the visitors lost the other opener, Jyoti Yadav, who was caught behind the wicket by wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia off Rakesh Patel with the scoreboard reading 73.
Suresh Raina and Rahit Elahi managed to realise 92 runs for the third wicket, in 130 minutes off 196 balls.
Raina emerged the top-scorer with 66 that came in 138 minutes off 104 balls.
But a bowling change at this juncture paid dividends as spinner Valmik Buch managed to get the prize wicket of Raina.
Soon after his departure, Rahit Elahi followed at a total of 174. But the unbeaten 58-run fifth wicket partnership between R Shanshan and G Pandey took the total to 232 runs at close of play.
Shamshan, with 34 runs, and G Pandey, with 25, were at the crease.
Both Uttar Pradesh and Baroda have four points each.
Scoreboard
Uttar Pradesh (1st innings):
Rohit Prakash lbw b Irfan Pathan Sr 27
Jyoti Yadav c N Mongia b Rakesh Patel 31
Suresh Raina c I Pathan b Valmik Buch 66
Rahit Elahi c S Joshi b Rakesh Patel 34
R Shamshan batting 34
G Pandey batting 25
Extras: (lb-9, nb-6) 15
Total: (for four wickets in 90 overs) 232
Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-73, 3-165, 4-174.
Bowling: Rakesh Patel 29-6-81-2, Irfan Pathan Sr 26-10-65-1, Shekhar Joshi 13-2-37-0, Valmik Buch 19-8-29-1, Tushar Arothe 3-0-11-0.
