Despite Jadeja's 331, Saurashtra may not get 3 points

Ravindra Jadeja's monumental 331 helped Saurashtra pile up a massive 576 for 9, but Railways replied strongly, finishing the third day's play on 157 for 1, in the Ranji Trophy Group league encounter in Rajkot on Monday.

Opener Shivakant Shukla is unbeaten on 74, having faced 221 deliveries and hit 11 boundaries in the process.

He added 99 runs for the unbroken second wicket stand along with No 3 batsman Vairamudi Cheluvaraj, who is undefeated on 49.

Railways are still 419 runs behind Saurashtra and not going to get three points from the match. But there is every chance that even the home team might end up not being able to bowl out Sanjay Bangar's boys on the flattest of tracks available.

Interestingly, when Jadeja scored his maiden triple century last year, it went down the drain as Saurashtra were unable to bowl out Odisha and both teams failed to get a point.

With rules changed, the teams now get a point if both do not have one completed innings.

With nothing on offer, Railways who are always adept at defending doggedly will employ the same approach on the final day.

Earlier in the day, Jadeja added another 11 runs to his overnight score of 320 before edging one from pacer Hardik Rathod to 'keeper Mahesh Rawat. His 331 had 29 fours and seven sixes while he faced 501 balls in the process.

Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Shah declared the innings once Kamlesh Makvana reached his second first-class century.

Brief scores:

Saurashtra: 576-9 decl (Ravindra Jadeja 331, Kamlesh Makvana 100 not out, Hardik Rathod 5-98).

Railways: 157-1 (Shivakant Shukla 74 batting, V Cheluvaraj 49 batting).