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Lucknow: India discard RP Singh (6/48) produced a superb seam bowling performance to reduce Orissa to 232 for nine in their first innings and put Uttar Pradesh in the drivers' seat on the third day of the Ranji Trophy Super League Group B match on Friday.
In reply to UP's first innings 403 all out, opener Natraj Behera (113) waged a lone battle for Orissa with a fighting century but his side is certain to follow on as they were trailing by 171 runs with only one first innings wicket in hand.
Former India pacer Debasis Mohanty, who came out at number nine, was the highest scorer for Orissa after Behera and was batting on 30 in company of Dhiraj Singh (15) when stumps were drawn at Dr Akhilesh Das Stadium.
UP would now look to quickly end the Orissa first innings on Saturday and press for a win by forcing a follow on. But they are certain to gain three points at least by virtue of first innings lead.
Resuming at 0/0 in reply to UP 403 all out, Orissa were immediately in trouble early in the morning as they were reduced to 15 for three inside the first hour. RP Singh claimed the wickets of opener Shiv Sunder Das (1) and Govind Poddar (1) while Niranjan Behera fell for a duck to Shalabh Srivastava.
Then Natraj Behera was involved in a 70-run stand with Biplab Samantray (20) for the fifth wicket before a 45-run partnership with Alok Chandra Sahoo (29) for the seventh wicket to take Orissa score past 200.
Natraj Behera was finally out towards the close of day after facing 244 balls from which he hit 17 fours.
Srivastava, Sudeep Tyagi and Praveen Gupta took a wicket each for UP, while Piyush Chawla went wicketless in his 22 overs.
Brief Scores
Uttar Pradesh 403
Orissa 232 for 9 (Behera 113, Mohanty 30*; RP Singh 6-48).
