ER sets up target of 344 before WR in final

Patna, May 09 (UNI) Defending Champion Eastern Railway today rescripted history by setting up a huge target of 344 runs in limited 40 overs before the Western Railway, Mumbai to win the 52nd All India Railway Cricket Tournament at the Moinul Haque Stadium here today.

On the second and penultimate day in the three day final, Eastern Railway scored 167 runs for five in their second knock, leaving strong contenders Western Railwaymen to score at the rate of 8.58 runs per over in the alloted 40 overs tomorrow to win the prestigious trophy.

Earlier, in reply to Eastern Railway's first innings, total of 270 runs all out in 86.2 overs, the Western Railway batsmen were bundled out for just 94 runs in 48.3 overs, succumbing before the dual pace attacks from Ambar Roy and S R Chowdhury who claimed five and three wickets each respectively giving only 38 and 15 runs.

Among the Western Railway batsmen Pallav Bora scored the highest 24 runs.

In their second knock too the last year's champions again played a steller role and scored 167 for five thereby leaving a herculian task before the Western Railwaymen to score 344 runs in the remaining 40 overs.

Tomorrow is the concluding day of the final.

UNI