Jalaj Saxena takes 16 as MP crush Railways

Madhya Pradesh 276 (Patidar 113, Karn Sharma 5-102) and 112 for 1 (Jalaj 47*) beat Railways 256 (Wakaskar 73, Cheluvaraj 50, Jalaj 8-96) and 131 (Jalaj 8-58) by nine wickets
Scorecard

Jalaj Saxena produced the second-best figures in Ranji Trophy history, taking 16 for 154 to help Madhya Pradesh rout Railways by nine wickets inside three days. After collecting 8 for 96 in the first innings, Jalaj ran through Railways' line-up again in the second, picking up 8 for 58 to dismiss the team for 131 in 51.1 overs. Jalaj's haul matched those taken by former Rajasthan fast bowler Pradeep Sunderam against Vidarbha in 1985. Anil Kumble currently holds the best ever figures in a Ranji Trophy match - 16 for 99 for Karnataka against Kerala in 1995.

As was the case in the first innings, a few of Railways' top-order batsmen made starts, but nobody could cross 26, as Railways folded to set the hosts a simple chase of 112. Madhya Pradesh began the chase positively, with the openers Jalaj and Rajat Patidar adding 72 off 75 balls. The hosts eventually overhauled the target in 19.1 overs, but the wicket of Patidar cost them a bonus point. The defeat left Railways rooted to the bottom of Group B, with just six points from six matches.

Tamil Nadu 0 for 0 trail Andhra 203 by 203 runs
Scorecard

Heavy rain in Chennai washed out play for the second straight day to all but rule out any chance of an outright result in the clash between Tamil Nadu and Andhra. Tamil Nadu are currently fourth in the table with 15 points, while Andhra are sixth with nine.

Uttar Pradesh 350 for 5 (Asnora 92, Chawla 54, Umang 53) trail Mumbai 610 for 9 dec by 260 runs
Scorecard

Uttar Pradesh's top and middle order dug in to help the team make its way to 350 for 5 against Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium. UP, who began at 51 for 0 in reply to Mumbai's 610 for 9 declared, lost Tanmay Srivastava early in the day, but Himanshu Asnora and Umang Sharma (53) combined for a 92-run partnership. Mumbai clawed their way back with two quick wickets, but Asnora once again led a recovery with another crucial stand - 70 for the fourth wicket with Sarfaraz Khan. Asnora was denied his maiden first-class ton, falling for 92, but Eklavya Dwivedi and Piyush Chawla both struck half-centuries during an unbroken 104-run partnership to keep UP's slim hopes of first-innings points alive.

Baroda 252 (Irfan Pathan 58, Axar 3-81) and 81 for 4 (Devdhar 35, Axar 2-19) trail Gujarat 505 by 172 runs
Scorecard

Baroda were left staring at an innings defeat against Gujarat in Valsad after losing 11 wickets on the penultimate day. Baroda, who began their first innings at 82 for 3, were bowled out for 252. Ambati Rayudu (47) and Irfan Pathan (58) held the innings together with a 58-run partnership, but no batsman was able to really produce a score of meaning. Axar Patel was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 81, while RP Singh, Jesal Karia and Rujul Bhatt took two each. With a massive lead of 253 in hand, Gujarat enforced the follow-on, and made further inroads as Baroda lost four more wickets in their second innings before the close of play. At stumps, the team was tottering at 81 for 4, still needing another 172 runs to make Gujarat bat again.