Ranji Trophy | Railways toils as Tamil Nadu pulls away with an enormous lead

Tamil Nadu’s C Mohamed Ali performs a shot on day-3 of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 match between Railways and Tamil Nadu, on the Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, on November 15, 2024.
| Photograph Credit score: Okay. MURALI KUMAR

It has been a troublesome couple of days for Railways. The host conceded a 209-run lead in opposition to Tamil Nadu and misplaced half its aspect for 169 runs in a Ranji Trophy Group-D match on the Narendra Modi Stadium right here on Friday.

The Railways gamers — who needed to spend 133.3 overs fielding as TN amassed 438 in its first innings — have been vocal and animated when a number of lbw and caught-behind appeals didn’t go their approach.

The Railways contingent — with a non-verbal strategy to convey its message — ‘clapped’ in unison, wanting on the umpires as they walked off the sector after the third day’s play.

TN’s S. Mohamed Ali (91, 174b, 10×4, 1×6), with useful contributions from the lower-order, took the aspect’s in a single day lead of 95 to above 200.

Mohamed performed the ball to its advantage in his excellent innings and pieced collectively an 80-run stand with S. Ajith Ram for the seventh wicket.

Kunal Yadav (5 for 133) eliminated Ajith Ram and S. Lakshay Jain in fast succession, and this modified Mohamed’s strategy. He determined to farm the strike and go for boundaries with No. 10 Gurjapneet Singh on the different finish. This noticed the top of Mohamed as he was caught at long-on.

Railways might have thought it noticed gentle on the finish of the lengthy tunnel.

Nonetheless, 16-year-old Pranav Ragavendra and Gurjapneet pissed off the bowlers with a 36-run stand. An prolonged first session too was not sufficient for Railways to finish its ordeal, as TN was solely dismissed after lunch.

To make issues worse, skipper Pratham Singh misplaced his stumps off the primary ball of Railways’ second innings as Gurjapneet continued his behavior of hanging early.

The Railways top-order proceeded briskly after that. Vivek Singh (63, 81b) and S.A. Ahuja (36, 41b) engaged in a 65-run stand earlier than Mohammad Saif joined the opener for a 70-run affiliation. Nonetheless, three late-evening jolts noticed Railways slipping from 135 for 3 to 150 for 5.

It’s protected to say that except Saif (52 batting) does one thing particular, the customer will journey again with a victory in its bag.

The scores:

Railways — 1st innings: 229.

Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: Shahrukh Khan c Vivek b Shivam 86, N. Jagadeesan lbw b Shivam 56, Vijay Shankar c Ahuja b Yuvraj 11, Pradosh Ranjan Paul c Merai b Himanshu 38, Andre Siddarth b Kunal 78, S. Mohamed Ali c Merai b Shivam 91, R. Sonu Yadav c Vivek b Kunal 4, S. Ajith Ram c Upendra b Kunal 27, S. Lakshay Jain b Kunal 0, Gurjapneet Singh b Kunal 24, Pranav Ragavendra (not out) 12; Extras: (b-2, lb-5, nb-3, w-1): 11; Whole (in 133.3 overs): 438.

Fall of wickets: 1-137, 2-158, 3-160, 4-234, 5-308, 6-314, 7-394, 8-398, 9-402.

Railways bowling: Himanshu 17-5-53-1, Kunal 31.3-0-133-5, Akash 37-6-88-0, Yuvraj 15-2-49-1, Saif 5-0-27-0, Shivam 27-5-77-3, Pratham 1-0-4-0.

Railways — 2nd innings: Pratham Singh b Gurjapneet 0, Vivek Singh c Jagadeesan b Sonu 63, S.A. Ahuja b Lakshay 36, Mohammad Saif (batting) 52, Upendra Yadav b Sonu 1, B.H. Merai c Andre b Ajith Ram 1, Shivam Chaudhary (batting) 12; Extras: (b-4): 4; Whole (for 5 wkts. in 45 overs): 169.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-65, 3-135, 4-145, 5-150.

Tamil Nadu bowling: Gurjapneet 8-2-21-1, Sonu 12-1-46-2, Pranav 2-0-15-0, Ajith Ram 10-1-19-1, Lakshay 7-0-47-1, Mohamed Ali 6-1-17-0.