LUCKNOW, Oct. 20 -- Leg spinner Zeeshan Ansari's five-wicket haul helped former champions Uttar Pradesh seize control of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match against Goa on Day 2 in Kanpur on Monday.

After Rinku Singh's unbeaten 118 had lifted UP to 202, Ansari dismissed Goa for 164 to give the hosts a 38-run first-innings lead, which they extended to 140 runs by stumps. UP were 102/4 at stumps on Day 2.

Goa resumed on 43/0. On a Green Park surface already beginning to assist spin, UP needed their bowlers to make every run count and it was Ansari who turned a competitive score into a meaningful lead.

Goa reached 61/0 as Suyash Prabhudessai and Shivendra Bhujbal blunted the new-ball attack. The breakthrough though set the tone for the...