Ranji Trophy: Saurabh Kumar spins UP to a victory over Gujarat

Valsad: Left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar finished with a 10-wicket haul in the match to help Uttar Pradesh post a 155-run win over Gujarat and earn six points from their Group B Ranji Trophy encounter on the third and penultimate day here on Sunday.

Chasing 431 for victory, Gujarat's one-down batsman Bhargav Merai chipped in with a crucial 54, while Manpreet Juneja (91 off 101 balls) and Axar Patel (80 off 89) played gritty late-order knocks, adding 142 runs off 153 balls for the seventh wicket, but failed to avoid defeat.

Saurabh, who claimed five for 37 in the first innings, once again wreaked havoc by taking five for 106 in the second essay to give the visitors an outright win.

Having already taken a 173-run first innings lead over Gujarat, UP resumed today at 163 for seven in their second innings and went on to score 257 all out with overnight batsman Piyush Chawla (62 not out) hitting a solid half-century.

Chasing a massive target, Gujarat lost two early wickets to be reeling at 6 for two inside five overs.

The home team, however, steadied the boat with a 60-run stand between Merai and captain Parthiv Patel (18).

But after Praveen Kumar dismissed Parthiv, Gujarat suddenly found themselves reduced to 110 for six from 66 for three with left-arm spinner Ali Murtaza (3/38) picking up two of the three wickets to fall.

Although lower-order batsmen -- Juneja and Axar -- tried to bring the hosts back on track but Murtaza removed the former to claim his third wicket before Saurabh came back to clean up the tail.

Saurabh finished with a match haul of 10 for 143.

Brief scores:

Uttar Pradesh: 273 & 257 (Piyush Chawla not out 62, Axar Patel 5/90).

Gujarat: 100 & 275 (Manpreet Juneja 91, Axar Patel 80; Saurabh Kumar 5/106, Ali Murtaza 3/38).

Points: UP 6, Gujarat 0.