Bangalore: S Sriram cracked an unbeaten 130 as Elite 'A' secured a vital 143 runs first innings lead over Elite 'B' with two wickets in hand on the second day of its Duleep Trophy encounter on Friday. Sriram smashed 13 fours in a 205 ball enterprising knock that laid solid foundation for his side's reply to Elite 'B' score of 219 in its first essay, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, eclipsing Sairaj Bahutule's five wicket haul. Earlier, openers Gautam Gambhir, who was looking to celebrate in style his inclusion in the national squad for the coming Dhaka tri-series, and Sanjay Bangar shared a 104 run partnership for the first wicket. Gambhir was trapped leg before to Bahutule, who was outstanding today, for 44 made off 99 balls with seven fours. Bangar scored 57, laced with six fours and one six, in 124 balls before being bowled to the same bowler. Elite 'A' skipper Reetinder Singh Sodhi made just one but a timely 51 by Y Venugopal Rao ensured that the side surpassed the rival team's score and seized the initiative. Bahutule returned with impressive figures of five wickets for 116 runs for Elite 'B'. Speedster Avishkar Salvi, who is also part of the 15-member Indian squad for the Championship involving South Africa, beginning on April 11, went wicket-less. Gyanendra Pandey and Romesh Powar picked up one wicket apiece. At stumps, Elite 'A' was 362 for eight with Sriram batting on 130 and Sarandeep Singh on eight. In the other match at Hyderabad Gymkhana grounds, a fine skipper's knock of 73 by Shiv Sunder Das put Elite 'C' on top as the team coasted to 251 for 7 in reply to Plate A's first innings score of 263 on the second day. Plate 'A' innings, resuming at 241 for 8, folded up at 263 after 41 minute play with overnight batsman Rajeev Kumar scoring 61 while speedsters Triwedi and Bhandari accounting for the last two wickets in 10.1 overs. In reply, Das lost his opening partner S Parab (12) with 20 runs on the board but dropped anchor and took the team to safety in the company of Yere Goud (23), Pankaj Dharmani (23) and N Doru (59 not out) before being trapped leg before to left arm spinner Sunil Joshi as the score read 149. The skipper's 73 was a 180 minute effort during which he blended caution with aggression to pick up six fours off the 152 balls he faced taking singles judiciously. N Doru took over from his skipper and holding one end with a resolute elegance, added 24 runs with young Parthiv Patel for the sixth wicket, compiled 46 in the company of Ajit Agarkar and scripted 32 runs with N Kulkarni (11 not out) in an unfinished eighth wicket partnership at close of the day. Doru's unbeaten 59 was the result of his patient stay at the wicket for 157 minutes and negotiated 150 balls with grit. Plate 'A' speedsters made no impact but spinners Sunil Joshi and Faisal Shaik claimed two wickets apiece. Veteran KNA Ananthapadmanabhan and Hrishikesh Kanitkar took one wicket each while opener S Parab was run out to a sharp throw by Yashpal Singh. Extras:
Pathan Jr, Sarandeep bundle out Elite 'B' for 219
Elite 'C' restricts Plate 'A' to 241 for 8

Tags: cricket, s sriram duleep trophy, m chinnaswamy stadium, sairaj bahutule, gautam gambhir, sanjay bangar, reetinder singh sodhi, y venugopal rao, avishkar salvi, gyanendra pandey, romesh powar, sarandeep singh, shiv sunder das, rajeev kumar, s parab, yere goud, pankaj dharmani, n doru, sunil joshi, parthiv patel, ajit agarkar, n kulkarni, faisal shaik, kna ananthapadmanabhan, hrishikesh kanitkar.