Half centuries by three top order batsmen kept Tamil Nadu's hopes of the first innings lead alive. The visitors scored 211 for 4 at stumps, in reply to Railways' 270, on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group 'A' match in Delhi on Friday.

Seasoned campaigners S Sriram (59), Hemang Badani (59) and S Badrinath (54 not out) brought Tamil Nadu back into the game after they lost two quick wickets for just 32 runs in ten overs.

Earlier, resuming at their overnight score of 237 for eight, Railways added 33 runs to the total in 10.2 overs before being bowled out for 270 after 53 minutes of batting.

Harvinder Singh 41 (117m, 1x6, 3x4) and Kulamani Parida (6) were the Railway batsmen to get out this morning.

Tamil Nadu's reply began on disastrous note as they lost opener S Vidyut (01) when the score was 13. He was trapped leg before by medium pacer Harvinder Singh. They suffered another blow when J P Yadav clean bowled the other opener, S Anirudha (19), with team score reading 32.

However, Sriram and S Badrinath foiled Railways' efforts for another quick breakthrough as they added 68 runs for the third wicket before Madan Yadav broke the stand.

Yadav got rid of Sriram, having the batsman caught by Yere Goud at forward short leg. Sriram scored 59, which was studded with eight boundaries, in 115 minutes.

Skipper Hemang Badani joined Badri Nath and both batted confidently, frustrating all the moves made by rival captain Sunjay Bangar, who kept shuffling his bowlers to break the partnership.

The fourth wicket stand fetched 88 runs for the visitors and when it looked that the two batsmen would see through the day, Badani lost his wicket.

The visiting skipper was stumped by Sanjay Wankhade off Madan Yadav when the team score was 188.

It was sweet revenge for the bowler as he was belted for two huge sixes by the batsman. Badani was at the crease for 131 minutes for his 54 that also included six hits to the fence.

Badrinath, who was unbeaten on 54 when stumps were drawn, was lucky to have survived as he was dropped by Madan Yadav off K Parida when he was on 53 and the team total was 210.

Scorecard

Railways (1st innings):
Sanjay Bangar c Karthik b T Kumaran 0
Amit Pagnis c Anirudha b R Naresh 13
T P Singh c Anirudha b R Jesuraj 0
J P Yadav c Naresh b R Jesuraj 12
Raja Ali lbw b R Naresh 2
Yere Goud b R Jesuraj 71
S Khanolkar st D Karthik b R Naresh 78
S Wankhede run out 9
Harvinder Singh c Anirudha b R Jesuraj 41
K Parida c D Karthik b R Naresh 6
M Yadav not out 9.
Extras: (B-2, LB-7, W-8, NB-12) 29.
Total: (all out in 96.3 overs) 270

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-13, 3-21, 4-30, 5-42, 6-164, 7-193, 8-226, 9-246.

Bowling: R Jesuraj 27.3-5-80-4, T Kumaran 19-5-42-1, R Naresh 24-6-68-4, A Kapoor 13-2-34-0, S Vidyut 13-2-37-0.

Tamil Nadu (1st innings):
S Anirudha b J P Yadav 19
S Vidyut lbw b Harvinder Singh 1
S Sriram c Yere Goud b Madan Yadav 59
S Badrinath batting 54
Hemang Badani st Sanjay Wankhade b Madan Yadav 54
Hemant Kumar batting 9.
Extras: (B-8, NB-6, W-1) 15
Total: (For four wickets in 81 overs) 211.

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-32, 3-100, 4-188.

Bowling: Harvinder Singh 11-3-45-1, J P Yadav 17-9-20-1, Sunjay Bangar 9-2-29-0, Kulamani Parida 26-11-36-0, S Khanolkar 2-0-15-0, Madan Yadav 16-2-58-2.

UNI