Ranji: Rajputs stun Rly

Indore, Feb 19 (UNI) In a nail-biting encounter, Rajasthan's tail-end batsmen put up a splendid performance to beat Railway by a solitary wicket in a Central Zone Ranji league one-dayer today at the Usha Raje Cricket Ground here.

After winning the toss, the railwaymen wielded the willow and scored 220/9 in the allotted 50 overs. When the situation was precarious at 13/3, S Sanyal (44) and S Khanolkar (53) steadied the innings with a fourth-wicket partnership of 93 runs. Murali Kartik also contributed 30.

The wicket-takers were Pankaj Singh (3), Kuldeep Singh (2), S Gehlot (1), A Khan (1) and M Aslam (1).

The Rajputs got off to a shaky start and were 111/5 at one point.

K Singh (33) and Afroz Khan (40) added 43 for the sixth wicket.

Rajasthan soon found itself at 184/9 but Rohit Jhalani's unbeaten knock of 35 proved a godsend. He contributed 37 in a partnership with S Gehlot.

For the Railway, S Bangar scalped 4 batsmen while J P Yadav, S Saxena, Sanyal, Kartik and Khanolkar took a wicket each. Rajasthan earned 4 points from the win.

UNI