Ranji Trophy: Almas Shaukat unbeaten 110 takes UP to strong position

Nineteen-year-old opener Almas Shaukat struck a century on his first-class debut to take Uttar Pradesh to 260 for 2 against Madhya Pradesh on day one of their Group B Ranji Trophy cricket match here yesterday

Moradabad: Nineteen-year-old opener Almas Shaukat struck a century on his first-class debut to take Uttar Pradesh to 260 for 2 against Madhya Pradesh on day one of their Group B Ranji Trophy cricket match here yesterday.

Shaukat received ample support from his opening partner Tanmay Srivastava, as the pair added 125 inside 44 overs in their first innings.

While Srivastava eventually fell for 75, Shaukat remained unbeaten on 110, with 17 fours and one six from 274 balls, after the home side elected to bat at the Teerthanker Mahaveer University Ground.

MP also picked up the wicket of Himanshu Asnora -- trapped lbw by Ankit Sharma -- but Shaukat and Mohammad Saif (34 batting; 74 balls, 5x4) took UP safely to stumps without any further damage.

UP gave little success to visiting team bowlers but the the scoring rate of the home side was very slow -- at 2.88 runs per over.

For MP, pacer Ishwar Pandey and left-arm spinner Ankit Sharma took a wicket apiece.

Brief Scores: Uttar Pradesh 1st Innings: 260 for 2 in 90 overs (Almas Shaukat 110 batting, Tanmay Srivastava 75).

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