On a ragged MAC Stadium pitch, the Tamil Nadu batters successfully chased down 128, but not without a few nervy moments.

Day three started with Tamil Nadu getting the last Railways wicket for the addition of just one more run. And it ended with the home side doing just enough to win the Ranji Trophy Elite Group D fixture by five wickets.

Toufik Mondal (23.1-3-50-4) and Raj Choudhary (25-8-46-1) operated with control and precision, ensuring Tamil Nadu did not get any easy runs.

The host opted for a new opening pair on Wednesday, with S.R. Athish (coming off a blob in the previous innings) replacing Vimal Khumar (following back-to-back ducks) as N. Jagadeesan’s partner.

Just as Tamil Nadu was looking comfortable at 31 for no loss, three batters went back to the dugout playing rash shots coming down the track.

Jagadeesan was bowled playing all around one. Athish and No. 3 Sonu Yadav fell to catches in the deep — the latter inexplicably going for a big hit immediately after striking Raj for a four.

B. Indrajith (23, 85b, 1x4) and Andre Siddarth (56 n.o., 128b, 2x4) then had a 50-run stand after the former was dropped by skipper Bhargav Merai at mid-off with the total on 51.

Andre, though he stayed till the end to win the game for Tamil Nadu, was scratchy at best in the beginning.

The host again lost two wickets in a jiffy, with Indrajith getting caught behind and Pradosh Ranjan Paul struck in front after a futile attempt at a reverse sweep.

At 91 for five, Tamil Nadu was still not out of the woods. However, Andre and Vimal Khumar weathered the storm and sealed six points, making it two wins in a row for Sai Kishore & Co.

The scores: Railways — 1st innings: 184.

Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: 165.

Railways — 2nd innings: S. Yuvraj Singh b Hemchudeshan 42, Vivek Singh b Gurjapneet 3, Eshaan Goyal b Sai Kishore 4, Mohammad Saif lbw b Sai Kishore 8, Bhargav Merai b Sai Kishore 0, Ravi Singh c Vimal b Hemchudeshan 19, Zubair Ali Khan b Ajith Ram 10, Toufik Mondal lbw b Hemchudeshan 11, Raj Choudhary c Jagadeesan b Sai Kishore 0, Pradhyumn Parikh (not out) 2, Himanshu Sangwan c Athish b Ajith Ram 2; Extras (b-5, lb-2): 7; Total (in 52.3 overs): 108.

Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-15, 3-31, 4-31, 5-56, 6-72, 7-85, 8-89, 9-100.

Tamil Nadu bowling: Sai Kishore 18-5-39-4, Gurjapneet 4-0-15-1, Hemchudeshan 15-5-21-3, Ajith Ram 15.3-3-26-2.

Tamil Nadu — 2nd innings: S.R. Athish c Zubair b Raj 21, N. Jagadeesan b Toufik 12, Sonu Yadav c Yuvraj b Toufik 2, B. Indrajith c Ravi b Toufik 23, Andre Siddarth (not out) 56, Pradosh Ranjan Paul lbw b Toufik 1, Vimal Khumar (not out) 10; Extras (b-1, lb-4): 5; Total (for five wkts. in 59.1 overs): 130.

Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-37, 3-39, 4-89, 5-91.