Railways ensure three points as Orissa get relegated

New Delhi: Hosts Railways kept their chances alive of making it to the knock-out stage of the Ranji Trophy after ensuring three points against Orissa by virtue of first innings lead of 48 runs.

Pacer Krishna Kant Upadhyay (2/69) and India discard Murali Kartik (3/73) grabbed four among the five wickets as Orissa were all out for 331 in pursuit of Railways first innings score of 379. Orissa with only two points from six games will be playing in the Plate Group next year as a six points against Rajasthan in the last game can only take them to a maximum eight points. Railways, on the otherhand now have 13 points and an outright win against Saurashtra in their last game can ensure a safe passage to the last eight. Starting the day at 294 for five, the overnight not out pair of Abhilash Mullick (51, 198 balls, 4x4) and Govind Poddar (44, 139 balls, 4x4) added 93 runs before the latter was cleaned up by Upadhyay who then removed Lagnajit Samal (0). Kartik, who has always bowled well against tail-enders then bowled Basant Mohanty. Mullick was then run-out as Orissa`s chances of making a match ended. The Railways batsmen got some batting practise as out of form Shreyas Khanolkar helped himself to a half-century. Brief Scores: Railways 379 & 113/2 (Shreyas Khanolkar 50 no). Orissa 331 (Paresh Patel 95, Subhrajit Sahoo 70, Murali Kartik 3/74, KK Upadhyay 2/69). PTI