India, Nov. 3 -- Tushar Deshpande tried all the tricks in the book. He would lay a short-ball trap with a spread-out field only to bowl fuller lengths. After the batters refused to cave in, he would bend his back and go all-out short.

But Sahab Singh and Vivek Singh withstood the barrage all the way. It was emblematic of the resistance Railways have shown so far in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match, with the ball to begin with on Day 1, when they pushed Mumbai back with six wickets to offset a century-plus opening stand, and with the bat on Day 2.

At their adopted home Brabourne Stadium, Railways finished Day 2 on 116/2 in reply to Mumbai's first innings total of 396. Left-handed Vivek (38*) ultimately had to return to the pavilion, ...