Although Vidarbha gained a slender first-innings lead, Uttar Pradesh batted resolutely to make for an interesting fourth-day's play in their Ranji Trophy league match at Kanpur.

Overnight on 227/6, Vidarbha could only add 20 runs to that total. The last four wickets fell in a hurry and Vidarbha were bowled out for 247 within a space of seven overs. For Uttar Pradesh, Ashish Winston Zaidi picked four wickets.

Looking to erase the first-innings deficit and then build a sizeable target for Vidarbha to chase, Uttar Pradesh started with a solid opening stand of 61. And, although wickets fell at regular intervals, each batsman in the top order reached double digits.

Mohammad Kaif top-scored with fifty, and Uttar Pradesh reached a total of 194/5 at stumps, with Mohammad Saif and Nikhil Chopra at the crease.

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