Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh lifted the Ranji Trophy for the first time in the 72-year history of the national championship by defeating former champions Bengal by virtue of the first innings lead at the K D Singh Babu stadium in Lucknow on Thursday.
After taking slender but decisive 14-run first innings lead, Uttar Pradesh, helped by a fine ton by skipper and India batsman Mohammad Kaif (109), scored 342 in the second innings.
Batting fourth, Bengal, who had made 373 in the first innings, lost five wickets to make 109 in their second knock before stumps on the fifth and final day.
Kaif, who had missed out on a hundred in the first innings, completed his first ton of the season and shared a 95-run stand with the talented Suresh Raina who also completed his half century.
Kaif, who hit two sixes and nine fours in his 109 runs innings and was caught at midwicket by substitute Kamal Hasan off Ranadeb Bose while Raina (52) was stumped by Deep Dasgupta of Shib Sagar Singh.
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