India, Oct. 29 -- Spinners Zeeshan Ansari and Kartik Yadav again underlined their growing importance to Uttar Pradesh as the former champions tightened the noose around hosts Pondicherry on the penultimate day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match at the Cricket Association Puducherry Siechem Stadium, Puducherry on Wednesday.

Forced to follow on after being dismissed for 172, Pondicherry were 39/0 in 11 overs at stumps, still trailing Uttar Pradesh by 122 runs. UP, who had posted 333 in the first innings, are chasing their third straight win in this Ranji season.

Leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari was the pick of UP attack, returning 4/11 from 18.1 probing overs. He took his season's wickets tally to 16. His accuracy and drift proved too mu...