Fast bowler Aswin Crist registered his best bowling figures in first class career to help Tamil Nadu enforce follow-on on Railways on the third and penultimate day of their Group B Ranji Trophy cricket match on Sunday.
After posting 328 in their first innings, Tamil Nadu rode on Aswin Crist’s (6/60) brilliant bowling to bundle out Railways for 164 after the hosts resumed at the overnight score of 129 for seven.
Besides Aswin Crist, J. Kousik also chipped in with three wickets giving away just nine runs. But following on, Railways batsmen produced a much better account of themselves in the second essay to take the hosts to 200 for four at stumps at the Karni Singh Stadium.
Opener V. Cheluvaraj, who scored 66 in the first innings, carried on his good form and remained unbeaten on 80 that came off 198 balls and was studded with 14 boundaries.
He was ably supported by wicket-keeper batsman Mahesh Rawat, who was unconquered on 77 off 111 balls with the help of 10 fours and three sixes. The duo had put on unbeaten 123 runs for the fifth wicket after Railways lost four wickets for 70.
But the task is far from over for Railways as they lead Tamil Nadu by just 36 runs and Cheluvaraj and Rawat will have to bat out of their skin tomorrow to save the match and eke out a draw for the hosts.
For Tamil Nadu, Malolan Rangarajan picked up two wickets for two wickets for 46 runs in the second innings.
Scores:
Tamil Nadu 1st innings; 328 all out in 111.2 overs (Baba Indrajith 151; Anureet Singh 5/104).
Railways: 164 & 200 for four in 70 overs (V Cheluvaraj 80 not out, Mahesh Rawat 77 not out; Malolan Rangarajan 2/46).
