Yadav rescues Railways

A resolute knock by opener J P Yadav saw Ranji champions Railways recover from early setbacks and reach 135 for three in their first innings on a low-scoring second day of the Irani Cup cricket match against Rest of India in Delhi on Wednesday.

Railways found the going extremely tough after they skittled out the Rest team for 266 in their first essay ten minutes after lunch, losing three wickets for just 39 runs.

With the cheap dismissals of prolific scorers of last season Amit Pagnis (6), Yere Goud (1) and skipper Abhay Sharma (20), it was left to J P Yadav and new entrant to the Railways side, Jacob Martin, to do the revival job.

The duo did not disappoint. Yadav, who was included in the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy but did not get a look-in, showed immense character during his unbeaten 71-run knock.

The Rest bowlers extracted good pace and turn from the wicket which took the hosts by surprise on more than one occasion.

Though Pagnis and Goud were dismissed to rather debatable leg before decisions to Irfan Pathan, the credit cannot be taken away from the Rest bowlers who stuck to a fine line and length.

Had it not been for the unbeaten 96-run stand between Yadav and Martin (25 batting), Railways, still carrying a 131-run deficit, could have found themselves in dire straits.

Earlier, Railways 'offie' Kulamani Parida capped his good show with the ball with a five-wicket haul to start his domestic season on a high note.

Parida, who alongwith left-arm spinner Murali Kartik had restricted Rest of India to 213 for four on Tuesday, scalped another two wickets in the first session and the final wicket in the over immediately after lunch to sent the Rest team packing within what then appeared a very manageable total.

The seamers, who failed to get any assistance from the pitch yesterday, were surprised to find the same wicket offering some bounce and they seized the opportunity with success.

Paceman Zakir Hussain set the ball rolling when he dismissed Delhi wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya for 15 and new man Sourashis Lahiri for one in the same over to reduce Rest to 236 for six.

Harvinder Singh got rid of the other overnight batsman Rohan Gavaskar when he trapped him leg before for 21 (63b, 2x4, 1x6). A lower order batting collapse saw remaining three Rest wickets fell within a space of 29 runs as Sarandeep Singh (12) and Irfan Pathan (0) were dismissed on the same total of 261.

Railways started on a shaky note losing Pagnis for six off Pathan with the total on eight. Pagnis did not look convinced with the umpire's decision and it did appear that the ball took an inside edge. Railways skipper Abhay Sharma hit three fours but could not capitalise on the good start to be dismissed for 20.

A bigger blow was in store for Railways as the dependable Goud (1) was claimed by Pathan in his very next over in what seemed another controversial decision.

But Yadav, who got a life off Lahiri on 50 after Gavaskar made a valiant effort at mid-on to hold on to a skier, and Martin stuck on doggedly to see Railways through without further loss of wickets.

Yadav reminded the selectors of his attacking abilities when he hit a six over bowler Timil Patel's head and followed it up with a four in the same over. He also hit two boundaries in an over by Sarandeep Singh. Martin also chipped in with a couple of fours.

Mail Cricket Editor