Railways score 291 for 5 in reply to Goa's 535

Margao, Nov 17 (UNI) Harshad Rawale's scintillating maiden century (102) guided Railways to muster a total of 291 for 5 in reply to Goa's 535 for 9 declared at the close of play on the penultimate day of the four-day Ranji plate B cricket match at MCC ground here today.

Railways Mahesh Rawat (83 not out) and Karan Sharma (12 not out) were at the crease at the end of the third day.

With five wickets in hand and one more day to go, Railways still need 45 runs to avoid a follow on.

Railways today resumed at the overnight score of 31 for 2 with captain Sanjay Bangar (8) and Harhad Rawale (13) making a cautious start. Bangar, at an individual score of eight, became the victim of medium Pacer Harshad Gadekar delivery with the score of 47 for 3 on board.

After the captain's exit, Sanjiv Sanyal joined Rawale and both played watchfully to register their 87-run partership for the 4th wicket before spinner Aditya Angle got the breakthrough for Goa.

Sanyal was instrumental in guiding his team to raise a total of 134 before he was caught by Manoj Joglekar off a Angle delivery on 54 which comprised eight hits to the fence and came off 81 balls.

At lunch Railways were 151 for 4 in 47 overs.

Harshad Rawale, who played a sheet anchor role, was in an aggressive mood and scored on almost every ball. He reached his score of 102 runs in 277 balls with the help of 11 boundaries and yielded a 132-run partership for the 5th wicket with Mahesh Rawat before being trapped leg before the wicket by Harshad Gadekar.

He was ably supported by Mahesh Rawat with his gritty knock of 83 (not out) laced with 13 fours, which came of 187 balls to consolidate the visitors total to 291 for 5 in 103 overs.

Medium pacer Harshad Gadekar was the most succesful bowler for Goa. He claimed three wickets conceding 40 runs while Aditya Angle bagged one wicket giving away 44 runs.

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