LUCKNOW, Dec. 31 -- Sparkling centuries by skipper Aalok Kumar and Kamran Ali guided former champions Uttar Pradesh tighten their noose around Gujarat with a massive 312-run first innings lead on the penultimate day of their three-day crucial last league match of the U16 Vijay Merchant Trophy on Tuesday. Kumar struck 127 in 255 balls with the help of 21 boundaries, whereas Ali smacked 126 in 148 balls with the help of seven fours and nine sixes as Uttar Pradesh declared their first innings at 415/6 in 109 in reply to Gujarat's first innings total of 103. Resuming at the overnight score of 118/2, Uttar Pradesh batters, especially Kumar and Ali exploited the conditions well at the JNN College of Engineering Ground in Shimoga and made mockery of Gujarat bowlers. Kumar added 104 runs for the third wicket with other overnight batter Arush Gupta, who scored 79-ball 40 with the help of seven hits to the fence. Before being caught by Jayvardhansinh Chavda off Ridham Patel, keeper-batter Kumar consolidated Uttar Pradesh's innings, adding 62 runs for the fourth wicket with Anay Awasthi (43, 60b, 1x4, 3x6). On the other hand, Ali, who retired hurt on 28 last evening, was in stunning mode on Tuesday, hammering Gujarat bowlers all-around the ground. Aarav Ratn Firmal (15) and Aryan Tyagi (12) were at crease when Uttar Prdaesh chose to declare their first innings. There was no respite for Gujarat batters even in the second innings as Uttar Pradesh bowlers, especially pacer Prithviraj Singh and Rudra Sharma ripped through the top order with three and two wickets, respectively to leave the rivals tottering at 45/6 in 16 overs at the end of Day Two. Sharma castled opener Jayveersinh Katar (2) in the second over, whereas Singh got fellow opener Dipanshu Gupta (5) caught by Hitesh Kumar in the third over. Sharma then trapped Aarav Kothari (9) lbw and Singh forced Vansh Shah (6) for a regulation catch to keeper Kumar and left the rivals reeling at 23/4 in the sixth over. Singh also had the wicket of Jayvardhansinh Chavda (0) just before the end of the day's play after Aryan Tyagi got the wicket of Trinabh Shukla (1) caught by Arush Gupta. Divya Desai (16) and ridham Patel (0) were at the crease at the close of stumps on Tuesday. With just four wickets in hand, Gujarat still need 268 runs to avoid an innings defeat when the final day game begins on Wednesday. IF UP win, they may qualify for the knockout. Agra's Yashika will lead Uttar Pradesh in the Women's Under 15 One Day Trophy, scheduled to be played at Kolkata from January 2. Other members of the team are: Aryama Mishra, Nupur Pandey, Kalpana Lodhi, Divyanshi Singh, Garima Singh, Shidhangana Verma, Aksha Khan, Khushi Pal, Priti, Anusree Kashyap, Kavya Bhaandoh, Priya, Aliya, Minakshi Yadav, Supriya Singh, Yashasvi, Aarti Chowdhary. Stand byes: Pari Yadav, Aarna Goswami. Uttar Pradesh will play their first game of Elite Group D against Karnataka on January 2, followed by Manipur on January 4, Rajasthan on January 6, Delhi on January 8 and Assam on January 10....