Ranji Trophy Group A: Jadeja show helps Saurashtra beat Railways

Chasing 186 to win on the final day after Railways put in a solid effort for 331 in their second innings, Saurashtra were in a spot of bother at 65/4, but Jadeja scored an unbeaten 48 to take his team home with three wickets in hand. 

India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja helped Saurashtra beat the Railways on the final day of Round 2 of the Ranji Trophy at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Thursday.

Chasing 186 to win on the final day after Railways put in a solid effort for 331 in their second innings, Saurashtra were in a spot of bother at 65/4, but Jadeja scored an unbeaten 48 to take his team home with three wickets in hand. 

Jadeja first combined with an 86-run stand with Sheldon Jackson (54) to put Saurashtra on course and then, despite, losing two more wickets, used all his experience to see his team through.

Earlier, it was Jadeja's 178 not out in the first innings that had propelled Saurashtra take a 148-run lead over the Railways. 

The Railways were skittled out for 200 in the first innings with Jadeja bagging four wickets. However, in the second innings, the Railways batted well and scored 331 riding Harish Tyagi's 93 and Anureet Singh's 44. 

Jadeja again got three wickets in the second innings. 

In reply, chasing 186 for victory, Railways' Avinash Yadav dented Saurashtra claiming the first four wickets to fall, before Jackson and Jadeja put their team on course for a victory. Yadav finished with 5/88.

The win takes Saurashtra to nine points and to the top of the table for the time being.

Other Group A matches:

Baroda vs Maharashtra at Vadodara

Day 4 - Maharashtra 2nd innings 217/2 (67 ov) - end of match

Gujarat vs Chhattisgarh at Valsad

Day 4 - Gujarat 2nd innings 167/5 (52.4 ov) - end of match

Vidarbha vs Karnataka at Nagpur

Day 4 - Karnataka 2nd innings 76/6 (33 ov) - end of match