Ranji Trophy 2015-16: Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round show helps Saurashtra earn bonus point against Tripura

Rajkot: Riding on a superb all-round performance by Ravindra Jadeja, Saurashtra today thrashed Tripura by an innings and 118 runs to bag a bonus point from their Ranji Trophy Group C. Having already choked the Abhijit Dey-led side to 11 for three while following on at the end of Day 2, left-arm spinner Ravindra (5-45) bagged three more scalps on the final day to skittle out the visitors for 86. Another young left-arm spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja gave his senior partner good support from the other end to bag four wickets. After posting a respectable 307 while batting first, Saurashtra saw a six-wicket haul from Ravindra to bundle out Tripura for 103. UPDATES: Saurashtra vs Tripura, Ranji Trophy 2015-16, Group C match, Day 3 at Rajkot

The left-handed all-rounder, who scored a brilliant 91 with the bat, again turned on the heat on Tripura batsmen to shut them out in well under three days. Sheldon Jackson, who top-scored for the Jaydev Shah-led side with a superb 97, also shared a crucial 146-run fifth-wicket partnership with Man of the Match Jadeja. With this win, Saurashtra earned seven points (6+1 bonus).

Add Cricket Country as a Preferred Source

Meanwhile, Saurashtra that has the likes of big names of Cheteshwara Pujara and Jadeja escaped a second round of batting due to Tripura’s follow-on. On Day one, Jaydev Shah’s decision to bat first on winning the toss eventually proved a boon to them. Following a poor show from the top-order, including Pujara who managed a poor 32-ball 10, it was the partnership of Jadeja and 26-year-old Sheldon Jackson that had powered Saurashtra to a competitive score.

Brief Scores:

Saurashtra 307 (Ravindra Jadeja 91, Sheldon Jackson 97; Tushar Saha 4 for 72) beat Tripura 103 (Arindam Das 24; Ravindra Jadeja 6 for 24) and 86 (M Murasingh 36; Ravindra Jadeja 5 for 45, Dharmendra Jadeja 4 for 12) by an innings and 118 runs.