Uttar Pradesh tightened the noose around Bengal, reaching 437 for seven on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Super League tie at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday, while Manoj Tiwary was docked 50 per cent of his match fees for showing dissent.
In reply to Bengal's paltry 149, Uttar Pradesh were 437 with P Kumar batting on 50 and Amir Khan batting on 30 at draw of stumps.
Meanwhile, match referee Inderjit Singh Sachdeva docked Tiwary 50 per cent of his match fees for bringing the game into disrepute arguing with the umpire after being given out lbw.
He was also warned that if he repeated the offence within a year, it would be level two offence and could lead to suspension.
Ranadeb Bose and Pravin Kumar were let-off with a warning and rider that if they repeated their on-field feisty barb, it would lead to a level one offence and could be penalised with fine.
Mohammad Kaif led from the front, scoring a fine 91 and setting the pattern of the day, after Suresh Raina was scooped up by Mondal off SS Paul adding just eight runs to the overnight score of 55.
He was ably supported by Piyush Chawla, who blossomed to hit a spectacular 50 that comprised ten boundaries. His 65 balls innings of 53 was cut short by a brilliant diving catch at gully by substitute Priyankur Mukherjee off Sourav Sarkar.
But Kaif continued with consummate ease and none of the bowlers except SS Paul showed any venom in their bowling. They bowled and hoped the Uttar Pradesh would commit some error and give their wicket.
Kaif was the last one out today nine short of a fine ton, when he was brilliantly caught and bowled by Sarkar. Kaif had played early onto to a slower delivery from Sarkar to end his 170-ball essay that had 13 hits to the fence.
At crease Uttar Pradesh looked set for a 450 plus score with Pravin Kumar batting on a strokeful 50 with five boundaries, and giving him company was Amir Khan on 30 with five boundaries.
Scorecard:
Uttar Pradesh (1st innings, overnight 128/2):
R Srivastava c Ghosh b Paul 58
T Srivastava lbw b Paul 13
S Raina c Mondal b Paul 63
P Gupta c Tiwary b Paul 35
M Kaif c & b Sarkar 91
R Shukla c Saha b Paul 31
P Chawla c sub (P Mukherjee) b Sarkar 53
A Khan not out 30
P Kumar not out 50
Extras: (lb 8, w 1, nb 4) 13
Total: (7 wickets in 121 overs) 437
Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-121, 3-158, 4-171, 5-263, 6-349, 7-360
Bowling: R Bose 27-6-80-0, SS Paul 29-6-99-5, LR Shukla 4-0-14-0, SS Sarkar 27-3-110-2, SS Lahiri 26-4-92-0, M Tiwary 2-0-20-0, A Majumdar 6-0-14-0
