Ashish Yadav's all-round show helped Railways earn three points against Tamil Nadu on the basis of their first-innings lead after the rain-hit Group A Ranji Trophy cricket match ended in a draw at Chepauk, here today.
Left-arm spinner Ashish bagged six wickets to help bundle out the Ramaswamy Prasanna-led Tamil Nadu for 213 in the first innings and then hit a well-made 51 to take his team to 236.
Incessant rain washed off Day 2 of the four-day encounter as Tamil Nadu declared their second innings on 133 for three on the final day but was not enough to get them more than a single point.
Railways were tottering on Day 3 at 101 for six when Yadav and Arnab Nandi (50) stitched together a 75-run seventh-wicket partnership to help get a vital 23-run lead.
Tamil Nadu off-spinner Malolan Rangarajan bagged four wickets, while new-ball bowlers Rahil Shah (2-58) and Aushik Srinivas (3-72) also chipped in at regular intervals.
Tamil Nadu opener Abhinav Mukund, who scored a valuable 57 in the first innings, was also good in his second essay after scoring a well-made 69.
Ashish was given the new ball in the second innings and the spinner did not disappoint after sending back opener Bharath Shankar for 1. Another left-arm orthodox Avinash Yadav picked two wickets.
Brief Scores:
Tamil Nadu 213 and 133/3 dec (Abhinav Mukund 67, Dinesh Karthik 35 not out; Avinash Yadav 2-40)
Railways 236 (Ashish Yadav 51, Arnab Nandi 50; Malolan Rangarajan 4-93, Aushik Srinivas 3-72).
Points: Tamil Nadu 1 Railways 3.
