Uttar Pradesh will meet Delhi in the Vijay Merchant Trophy (under 16) Tournament final. The three day match commences in Calcutta on January 13. Uttar Pradesh confirmed their place in the title clash thanks to the 206-run first innings lead over Punjab in the semifinal match at the Eden Gardens on Thursday.

Resuming at 248/4, UP lost three quick wickets in the morning to find themselves at 267/3. Alok Singh made 20 as Mohd Amir and Vishal Francis failed to open their account. Praveen Gupta made 12 and was caught and bowled by Vipul Sharma at 288. UP lost their overnight batsman Aris Alam, who was shaping well with 78, when he was stumped by Bupinder Singh off Ankur Jand at 300. Alam struck nine boundaries off 238 balls in his five and a half hour stay at the crease. Devendra Singh and last man Avinash Yadav put on 66 runs for the tenth wicket. Yadav was the last man to be dismissed after making a patient 43 off 131 balls which included six fours. The UP innings lasted 144.4 overs to be bowled out for 366. Vipul Sharma was the best of the bowlers with figures of 47-15-81-3

In their second innings which would have made no difference to the result of the match, Punjab were 69/4 in the 29th over when play was called off at the fall of the fourth wicket. Viswas Bhalla was unbeaten on 29. Devendra Singh picked up 2/28 in nine overs.

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