Rajasthan were forced to settle for three points in their
The final day began with Railways resuming their first innings at 305/6. They were dismissed for 338 within the first hour of play, with Rajasthan’s Ajay Kukna finishing as the pick of the bowlers. The left-arm spinner claimed 4 for 106, earning praise from Railways centurion Mohammad Saif, who had anchored his side's resistance with an unbeaten 103 off 118 balls.
Injury setbacks hamper Rajasthan's victory bid
Following the first-innings conclusion, Rajasthan enforced the follow-on, hoping to capitalize on a brief period where the pitch offered assistance to the bowlers. The hosts made an encouraging start, claiming two early wickets in a hectic opening session. However, the momentum shifted as the surface flattened out, and Rajasthan’s bowling attack struggled to make further inroads.
The hosts' pursuit of a win was significantly hindered by injuries to key personnel. Pacer Akash Singh sustained a right-hand injury while completing a caught-and-bowled dismissal of Saif, while Kukna was hampered by swelling in his finger, limiting his effectiveness. Rajasthan captain Kartik Sharma noted that the team’s plan to quickly dismiss the visitors was disrupted by these physical setbacks and the lack of assistance from the pitch.
Resilient partnership denies hosts
Any remaining hopes for a Rajasthan victory were effectively extinguished by a resolute third-wicket partnership between Eshaan Goyal and Saif. The pair put together an unbroken stand of 155 runs, with Goyal providing a steady anchor by scoring an unbeaten 59 from 132 deliveries. By the time stumps were drawn, Railways had reached 176/2 in their second innings.
Addressing the performance of his side, Captain Sharma defended his young bowling unit, emphasizing the importance of gaining experience at this level. He expressed hope that both Akash and Kukna would recover in time for the team's upcoming fixture. Rajasthan is scheduled to face Uttarakhand in Dehradun, with that match set to begin on October 26.
