Raja Ali's unbeaten 72 enabled Railways set Gujarat a 325-run victory target, but two early wickets saw the hosts tighten the noose around their rivals on the penultimate day of the four-day Ranji Trophy Elite Group 'A' match in Delhi on Sunday.

Resuming at their overnight score of 53 for two, Railways declared their second innings at 215 for six and set Gujarat a difficult target of 325.

At stumps, Gujarat were 57 for two, losing both their openers.

Team India discard Parthiv Patel (18) and NK Patel (21) were unbeaten.

The Railways batsmen did not have a great day today and threw away their wickets before Raja Ali stepped in. The middle order bat mixed caution with aggression and was unbeaten on 72 off 146 balls that included two boundaries and as many sixes. Railways captain Sanjay Bangar declared the innings after his side reached 215 for six.

Chasing a huge target, Gujarat lost their openers early and after conceding a 109-run first innings lead to the hosts, they would be fighting to save an outright defeat tomorrow.

Scorecard

Railways (1st innings): 188

Gujarat (1st innings): 79

Railways (2nd innings): (Overnight 53 for 2)
G Shankara Rao c Damani b Trivedi 11
AA Pagnis lbw b Trivedi 23
SB Bangar b Yadav 9
Jai P Yadav lbw b Makda 27
Raja Ali not out 72
YKT Goud lbw b Makda 18
SN Khanolkar c Modi b Damani 9
SV Wankhede not out 27.
Extras: (B-14, LB-2, W-1, NB-2) 19
Total: (For six wickets, in 92 overs, declared) 215

Fall of wickets: 1/14 2/38 3/66 4/77 5/139 6/155

Bowling: Trivedi 15-8-20-2, Makda 13-4-24-2, Yadav 19-4-55-1, Watekar 8-1-18-0, Parmar 17-5-43-0, Damani 13-1-24-1, NK Patel 7-1-15-0.

Gujarat (2nd innings):
ND Modi c Raja Ali b Harvinder Singh 1
Akash Christian c Wankhede b Yadav 5
NK Patel not out 21
Parthiv Patel not out 18
Extras: (B-9, NB-3) 12
Total: (For two wickets in 36 overs) 57

Fall of wickets: 1/4, 2/13.

Bowling: Harvinder Singh 4.4-1-6-1, JP Yadav 7-3-7-1, Kulamani Parida 10.2-7-6-0, Shankara Rao 6-1-17-0, Madan Yadav 5-1-7-0, S Khanolkar 3-1-5-0.