Rain permits only partial play, Saurashtra crawl to 120-5

Chennai, Dec 3 (UNI) The weather gosd virtually foiled the prospects of Tamil Nadu forcing an outright win as Saurashtra, benefitted by rain due to a low pressure in the Bay, crawled to 120-5, in reply to Tamil Nadu's mammoth first innings score of 531-2 decl, with just 116 minutes of play being possible on the third and penultimate day of the Elite Group A Ranji trophy championship Super League match here today.

As two spells of rain and bad light dogged the day's play at the M A Chidambaram stadium, overnight batsman Chateswar Pujara managed another good score of 62 off 66 balls with the help of nine fours, resuming at his overnight score of nine. His overnight partner P Mehta, yet to open his account yesterday, scored 21 off 86 balls with the help of one four.

Tamil Nadu's left arm spinner R Ramkumar picked up the wickets of both Pujara and Mehta for figures of 3-22. Saurashtra were 28 for three at stumps on the second day.

Only 28 overs could be bowled today as the day's play could commence only after lunch after one inspection at noon. Soon after rain interfered with play and it could be resumed only after tea.

Brief Scores: TN5 31-2 decl, Saurashtra 120-5 (C Pujara 62, P Mehta 21, R Ramkumar 3-22.

UNI