The Uttar Pradesh camp not only uttered words like 'self-belief' and 'commitment' while in their pre-match practice attire, but their middle-order batsmen Akshdeep Nath, Rinku Singh and Mohammad Saif displayed these attributes in good measure on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy game against Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.

Nath, India's 2012 under-19 World Cup-winning vice-captain, came to his side's rescue with an unbeaten 115 while Rinku too shouldered responsibility to be unbeaten on 71 after the visitors were tottering at 48 for three. They ended the day with 281 for four.