CHENNAI, February 5: Saurabh Shukla, the lean batsmen who shows insatiable hunger for runs especially in Super League matches, exorcised the ghost from the pitch to blast his highest score of his career at the MAC Stadium on Thursday. Thanks to Shukla (158, 313m, 255 balls, 23x4, 2x6), Uttar Pradesh, who had the odds stacked against them when they were 59 for three staged a smart recovery by draw of stumps against hosts Tamil Nadu.UP, who had a back-breaking journey before the match, looked lost as T Kumaran had Rakesh Sharma snicking to Reuben S Paul who moved to his right to come off with a good catch. Left-hander Jyoti Yadav (22b, 2x4, 1x6) treated the bowling attack by its scruff but was surprised by left-arm spinner Devakar Vasu's delivery and just pushed into short-leg fielder Vasanth Kumar's hands. Then Vasu bowled a superb armer to get rid off Rizwan Shamshad.
Gyanendra Pandey (62, 173m, 149 balls, 3x6's 1x4) proved that he is a doughty warrior and dug himself deep at the wicket by playing acaptain's innings. He and Shukla added 151 for the fourth wicket.
SCOREBOARD
Uttar Pradesh (1st innings): Rakesh Sharma c Paul b Kumaran 17, Jyoti Yadav c Vasanth Kumar b Vasu 22, Saurabh Shukla batting 158, Rizwan Shamshad b Vasu 6, Gyanendra Pandey c Paul b Vasu 62, Rahul Sapru batting 17;
Extras: (lb3, nb5) 8.
Total: (for 4 wkts, 91 overs) 290
Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-49, 3-59, 4-210
Bowling: Kumaran 15-2-55-1, Robin 7-1-21-0, Vasu 27-6-59-3, Venkataramana 17-3-45-0, Chandramouli 16-3-67-0, Sriram 9-0-40-0
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
