J P Yadav led Railways' recovery with an unbeaten half century as the former champions reached 251 for five against Tamil Nadu on the third day of their Ranji Trophy semi-final in Chennai on Tuesday.

Yadav, who made 73 with the help of eight boundaries and three sixes, and Raja Ali (37), were at the crease while the Railways were still 231 runs adrift of the target of 481 when the stumps were drawn.

Resuming at overnight score of 18 for no loss, Shreyas Khanolkar, 31, departed being adjudged leg before wicket off S Suresh's delivery.

Though, captain Sanjay Bangar (47- 8x4) stuck to his wicket, both T P Singh (24-3x4, 1x6) and Yere Goud (9) left Railways in a difficult situation of 113 for 3 before Yadav pulled his team with a determined effort. Earlier, Khanolkar and Bangar put on 65 runs for the first wicket in 27.2 overs.

Bangar, who was shaping well, also walked back being brilliantly caught at silly point by Badrinath off Ramkumar delivery after facing 170 balls.

Yadav then resurrected the Railways' innings. First he added 59 runs for the fifth wicket with Siddarth Varma (13) and then, his association with Ali yielded 70 runs in 18.4 overs for the unfinished sixth wicket.

Spinners Ramkumar (2 for 54) and Suresh (2 for 41) were the main wicket takers for Tamil Nadu.

Scoreboard:

Tamil Nadu first innings: 481 all out

Railways first innings:
S.Khonalkar lbw b S.Suresh 31
S.Bangar c Badrinath b Ramkumar 47
T.P.Singh c Sharath b Ramkumar 24
Yere Goud c Karthik b Ganapathy 9
J.P.Yadav not out 73
S.Varma c Ramkumar b Suresh 13
Raja Ali not out 37

Extras: (B1, Lb5, W1, NB10) 17

Total: (for 5 wkts in 98 overs) 251

Fall of wickets: 1/65, 2/99, 3/113, 4/122, 5/181

Bowling: D.Tamilkumaran 19-9-44-0; C.Ganapathy 19-5-53-1; R Ramkumar 30-16-54-2; S.Suresh 15-2-41-2; Vidyuth 12-3-46-0; S Sriram 3-1-7-0.