LUCKNOW, Nov. 17 -- A five-wicket haul by pacer Aayan Akram helped former champions and last year's semi-finalist Uttar Pradesh off to a fine start in their campaign in the Cooch Behar Trophy as they take a commanding 193 runs first innings lead against visitors Chandigarh, at the newly built Solitaire Cricket Ground in Saharanpur on Sunday. While making his debut in the event, right-arm pacer Akram ripped through Chandigarh's batting line-up after being sent to field first and got the rivals out for paltry 64 in their first innings in just 31.4 overs. In reply, Uttar Pradesh ended the Day One of their four-day Elite Group D encounter at 257/3 in 61 overs. Playing on the home turf, lanky Akram first castled Balraj Singh (4) with a swinging one, then uprooted the middle stump of Markanday Panchal (9), forced Sarthak Kamal (26) to offer a straight catch to Yash Panwar, trapped Ishaan (1) leg before wicket and bowled Rishit Saini (0) to finish with a bowling figure of 10.4-1-34-5 with 46 dot balls. Earlier, it was fellow pacer Yash Panwar, who hurled the early blows to finish with 2/8, whereas Aditya Kumar Singh took 2/7. In reply, as expected Uttar Pradesh batters made full use of the home advantage as Bhavi Sharma smacked a century, whereas openers Anmol Noushran and Shantanu Singh struck half centuries to give the side a commanding lead. Noushran and Singh added 67 runs for the first wicket before Singh was bowled by Ishaan after scoring 31-ball 54 with the help of seven boundaries and three sixes. Though next man and captain Bhavy Goyal (0) couldn't open his account before being trapped leg before wicket by Ishaan, Noushran and Sharma continued to hit the ball hard. Before being caught by Aditya off Rishit Saini, young Sharma hammered 118-ball 108 with the help of 16 boundaries and three sixes. He along with Noushran added 147 runs for the third wicket. Noushran remained unbeaten at 57, which came off 168 balls with the help of just one boundary. Akram too showed his might with willo, staying unbeaten on 35 in 43 balls with the help of five boundaries. The two added an unbeaten 43 runs for the fourth wicket. Ishaan remained the most successful bowler for Chandigarh, bagging 2/60, whereas Rishit Saini took 1/58. Now, Uttar Pradesh would be aiming for a big first innings total when the game starts on Tuesday....