LUCKNOW, Oct. 29 -- Uttar Pradesh edged ahead on Day 2 of their Under-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy Elite Group B match against hosts Hyderabad, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Wednesday, finishing at 115/3 in their second innings and taking a five-run lead with seven wickets in hand. After being bowled out for 168 on the opening day and conceding 110 runs first innings lead, Uttar Pradesh's bowlers fought back strongly to dismiss Hyderabad for 278 in 84.4 overs. Leg-spinner Vipraj Nigam was the architect of the fightback, claiming 6/104 from 33.4 overs, while left-arm orthodox spinner Prashant Veer supported him with 3/99. Hyderabad had resumed in a promising position after reaching 82/1 on Day 1, but lost momentum once Nigam and Veer settled into long spells. Wafi Kachchhi top-scored with a fluent 53 from 71 balls, striking nine fours, while Pranav Varma made 79 from 116 deliveries with four boundaries and five sixes. Varma looked set for a hundred and added useful runs with the lower order, but his dismissal for 79, caught by Sameer Rizvi off Nigam ended Hyderabad's innings at 278. Nishanth S also contributed a quick 22 from 16 balls, including four fours and a six, before becoming one of Nigam's six victims. Uttar Pradesh then began their second innings positively, reaching 115/3 by stumps. Swastik Chikara led the reply with an attacking 40 from 27 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes, while Kavya Teotia was unbeaten on 43 from 67 deliveries. Skipper Sameer Rizvi, the first-innings top scorer with 40, added 11 before being stumped by Avanish Rao off Pranav Varma. Pranav Varma was again Hyderabad's most effective bowler, taking 2/28 from 11 overs, including the wickets of Manav Sindhu and Rizvi. Nishanth S removed Adarsh Singh early for nine, but Chikara and Teotia rebuilt the innings before stumps. At the close, Uttar Pradesh led by five runs, with Teotia and Mohd Amaan at the crease. With two days remaining, the match remains finely balanced, though Uttar Pradesh will feel they hold the advantage after Nigam's match-defining spell. Uttar Pradesh 168 (Sameer Rizvi 40; Nishanth S 5/30) and 115/3 (Kavya Teotia 43*, Swastik Chikara 40; Pranav Varma 2/28) lead Hyderabad 278 (Pranav Varma 79, Wafi Kachchhi 53; Vipraj Nigam 6/104, Prashant Veer 3/99) by 5 runs....