Mohammad Saif’s 233 & Akash Pandey’s 10-wicket haul powers Railways to a win in Ranji Trophy

Railways handed a crushing defeat by an innings and 73 runs to Jammu and Kashmir in the Elite Group D game of the Ranji Trophy. The match was played in Surat from January 3 to 6.

Batting first, Railways posted a mammoth 427 in 105.1 overs. Mohammad Saif was the star performer for the Railways. Saif scored a brilliant 233 off 293, including 30 boundaries and three sixes. The southpaw single-handedly powered Railways to a comprehensive total. On the other hand, Jammu and Kashmir’s Abid Mushtaq was the pick of the bowlers with 98/4 in 26.1 overs, including three maidens.

In reply, Jammu and Kashmir were bowled out for 161 in 60.3 overs and trailed by 266 runs. Suryansh Raina (48) and Musaif Ajaz (39) were the top contributors with the bat for Jammu and Kashmir. On the other hand, Akash Pandey wreaked havoc with the ball for the Railways as he claimed 49/6 in 21.3 overs, including four maidens.

Railways gave a follow-on to Jammu and Kashmir and asked them to bat again. Jammu and Kashmir, however, had another dismal outing with the bat. They were bundled out for 193 in 62.4 overs. Fazil Rashid put up a fight with a gritty 53 but failed to carry on. On the other hand, it was Akash Pandey again with the ball for the Railways as he scalped 58/4 in 23 overs, including five maidens.