Uttar Pradesh take the honours on engrossing day

Uttar Pradesh 387 and 183 for 2 (Kaif 81*) lead Bengal 373 (Shukla 66, Chawla 5-83) by 197 runs
Scorecard
How they were out

Mohammad Kaif rode his luck to put UP in a commanding position © Getty Images

On a day when everything hinged on who would take the first-innings lead, Uttar Pradesh held their nerve to dismiss Bengal 14 runs short of their target and build a platform from which they are very unlikely to lose.

Following a defiant overnight stand between Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Ranadeb Bose, Bengal looked well set to overhaul UP's first-innings 387. Bose, a rank tailender, had batted 68 deliveries for his 11 in a vital 32-run stand for the ninth wicket; however, following a brace of aggressive hits past Shalabh Srivastava he failed to keep his bat out of the way of a well-directed bouncer and edged to the wicketkeeper.

Keen to get past UP's total, Shukla launched a mighty six off Piyush Chawla's legspin over long on and then reverse-swept the same bowler past third man to bring Bengal within striking distance. With the field spread, Shukla looked keen on going for the big hits. Chawla, however, proved the decisive factor between Shukla and the lead when he tossed one up on leg and saw Shukla's slog-sweep spiral high in the air towards deep square-leg where Ali Hamid Zaidi, the substitute fielder, dived forward and plucked a beauty. As the entire UP team ran towards the fielder - whooping and yelling in delight - Shukla cut a forlorn figure as he loped back to the pavilion.

Beginning their second innings 14 runs ahead of Bengal, UP were given an aggressive - and somewhat reckless - start by Praveen Kumar. Having ridden his luck in a first-innings 48, Kumar began in the same vein but could not sustain his urgency at the crease. Slashing at a wide delivery from Bose, he could only look on as Arindam Das snapped a good catch at first slip (25 for 1). Having drawn first blood, Bengal let slip the biggest catch of the match. Kaif, beginning in typical fidgety fashion, drove Bose uppishly towards cover where Abhishek Jhunjhunwala spilled a straightforward chance. In a match in which they have been undone by crucial umpiring decisions and rashness alike, this would turn out to cost Bengal dearly.

Paul, breathing fire after lunch, troubled Kaif with pace and movement off the pitch. Unsettled by a bouncer to the helmet, Kaif tried to deal with the sharp lift Paul generated by moving across the stumps. Spurred on, Paul continued to run in fast, bang it in hard and charge down the pitch towards Kaif. What ensued was an exchange of pleasantries and some long hard glares from bowler to batsman, forcing the umpires to intervene.

With the introduction of the right-arm-left-arm spin duo of Saurasish Lahiri and Shivsagar Singh, Kaif began to look more at ease. Taking a cue from the aggressive Shiva Shukla at other end, Kaif opened up with gorgeous drives either side of the pitch, even lofting Lahiri down the ground for a straight six. He was given a further life on 44, however, when Deep Dasgupta missed a routine stumping chance off Singh. Beaten in flight going forward to a delivery pitched on leg, Kaif and Singh could only look on as Dasgupta failed to collect the ball. Such chances proved costly for Bengal, as Kaif made the most of them to lead UP's bid for a maiden Ranji Trophy title.

Shukla eventually fell for 56 to Paul - who bowled his heart out for the unrewarding figures of 22-3-57-1 - but thanks to Kaif's unbeaten 81, UP are on solid ground.

Praveen Kumar c Arindam Das b Bose 15 (25 for 1)
Cuts a wide delivery straight to first slip

Shiva Shukla lbw b Paul 56 (136 for 2)
Trapped leg before by a full delivery

Ranadeb Bose c Amir Khan b Srivastava 11 (363 for 9)
Tries to fend a short delivery, ball kisses the egde on the way to the `keeper

Laxmi Ratan Shukla c sub (AH Zaidi) b Chawla 66 (373 for 10)
Slog-sweeps to deep square leg where the fielder takes a good diving catch