A moment from the match between NFR (fielding) and Silchar at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday. Picture by UB Photos

Guwahati, May 2: NF Railway appear set for a first innings lead, piling up 349 all out in 101.3 overs in the first innings as opponents Silchar were struggling at 166 for five in 50 overs at close of the second day’s play in the four-day final of the Nuruddin Ahmed Trophy senior inter-district elite group cricket tournament at Nehru Stadium here today.

Resuming at the overnight 277 for six after the day’s play was delayed following a morning downpour, not out batsman Tarjinder Singh (70, 4x7) helped NF Railway rally to the challenging total. Seasoned Mrigen Talukdar and tailender Arup Das contributed useful knocks of 29 (4x3) and 21 (4x4) respectively.

Earlier yesterday, the railmen elected to bat first and rode an opening partnership of 146 between Manoj Malo (88, 4x14) and Chandan Rawat (67, 4x5, 6x1) to a comfortable start. Besides, southpaw Sibsankar Roy chipped in with 32 (4x6).

Pritam Das, Kaushik Giri, Prakash Bhagat and Raju Das of Silchar picked up two wickets apiece, giving away 70, 64, 57 and 22 runs respectively.

For Silchar, Raju Das (44, 4x5, 6x1) was the topscorer till this afternoon while wicketkeeper-batsman Rajdeep Das was batting on 44 (4x6, 6x1) along with Samik Das on 36 (4x2, 6x2) at the other end at close today. Yatin Malik (19, 4x2) was the other notable scorer for the side.

Spinners Sekharjyoti Barman and Swarupam Purkayastha of NF Railway took two wickets each conceding 54 and 47 respectively. The railmen had crushed Silchar by a mammoth first innings lead in the last super league match on Sunday.