Mohammad Kaif scored a fluent 92 to help Uttar Pradesh post 299 for 3 on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy final against Bengal in Lucknow on Sunday.

Kaif, overlooked by selectors for the Test tour of Pakistan to accommodate Sourav Ganguly [Images] in the middle order, put on 123 for the second wicket with opener Shiva Kant Shukla (71) and 63 with left-hander Suresh Raina (61 not out) for the third.

The Uttar Pradesh skipper struck nine fours and two sixes in his 158-ball stay after the hosts opted to bat.

At stumps, Raina and Rizwan Shamshad (18) were at the crease.

Uttar Pradesh are aiming for their first title in three final appearances.

Scorecard

Uttar Pradesh (1st innings):
P Kumar c Das b Lahiri 48
S Shukla c Gavaskar b Singh 71
M Kaif b Singh 92
S Raina not out 61
R Shamshad not out 18
Extras: (b 3, lb 4, nb 2) 9
Total: (for 3 wickets in 90 overs) 299

Fall of wickets: 1-72, 2-195, 3-258.

Bowling: S S Paul 27-3-88-0, Ranadeb Bose 15-2-51-0, Lakshmi Ratan Shukla 2-0-8-0, Saurashish Lahiri 20-3-63-1, Shib Sagar Singh 23-4-59-2, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala 1-0-13-0, Manoj Tiwary 1-0-5-0, Rohan Gavaskar 1-0-5-0.