The second day of the Ranji Super League match between Railways and Uttar Pradesh at the Karnail Singh Stadium had moments of melodrama.

Overnight batsman Praveen Kumar fell two short of a century as UP finished with 346 on board, RP Singh’s dramatic first spell saw Railways four wickets down with just 12 runs on the board before Yere Goud did the rescue act with an unbeaten half-century guiding the hosts to 118 for 5 at the end of the day — still 79 runs away from saving the follow-on.

While Praveen’s 98 kept the small gathering entertained — he added 47 of UP’s 71 in the first session on Sunday, before middling one straight to Sanjay Bangar at mid-off — the hosts’ dressing room matched the gloomy conditions outside.

Their top four fell cheaply yet again — in the seven overs before lunch, they completely succumbed to the new ball. RP Singh, working his way to another comeback after being dropped midway through the ODI series, took advantage of overcast conditions and pitched the ball up to get maximum swing.

He tasted immediate success with his third and fifth deliveries as Bangar and Harshad Rawle went back — the Railway skipper edged an angled delivery to wicket-keeper Amir Khan while Rawle failed to read an inswinger that took the leg stump for a walk.

Milind Tamhane miscued a pull to RP at fine leg off Bhuvnesh Kumar. Railways vice-captain Sanjib Sanyal followed off the penultimate ball of the session, struck clueless to another incoming delivery from RP that cleared his defence.

... contd.