Ranji: Bengal face daunting task on final day

Hosts Bengal face an uphill task of surviving the whole of fourth day against Railways in order to avoid a fourth outright defeat in their final Group A league encounter of the Ranji Trophy at the Jadavpur University Complex in Kolkata, on Monday.

Railways set a daunting target of 372 and Bengal were in a spot of bother as they finished the final day at 13 for one needing another 359 for victory.

Railways scored 314 for nine in their second innings largely due to a 98-run ninth wicket stand between wicketkeeper Mahesh Rawat (75 not out) and all-rounder Krishna Kant Upadhyay (55 not out).

Their partnership virtually shut out any chances that Bengal harboured of an outright win.

Railways' batting mainstay Rawat hit seven boundaries in his 128-ball knock while Upadhyay chanced his arm as he smacked nine boundaries en route his maiden first-class half-century.

Amit Paunikar (54) helped himself to another fifty while Shivakant Shukla (39) also made useful contribution adding 74 runs for the opening wicket. While the middle-order didn't perform well but still Railways managed to reach 216 for eight when Upadhyay joined Rawat.

The best part about the partnership was they added the 98 runs in just over 22 overs at a fast clip of over four runs per over.

Brief Scores:

Railways: 214 and 314/9 (Mahesh Rawat 75 not out, Krishna Kant Upadhyay 55 no, Amit Paunikar 54, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala 3/42).

Bengal: 157 all out and 13-1 (R Mali 1-4).