Ignored Ravindra Jadeja scores unbeaten 150 for Saurashtra

The left-hander struck his eighth first-class hundred in the Ranji Trophy Group B match against Jammu and Kashmir.

Ravindra Jadeja (in picture) shared a 281-run partnership with Sheldon Jackson.

Ravindra Jadeja brushed aside his exclusion from the Indian squad for the New Zealand tour to score an unbeaten 150 for Saurashtra on Saturday in a Ranji Trophy Group B match against Jammu and Kashmir.

Jadeja, who has not played for India since the Test series in Sri Lanka two months ago, struck his eighth first-class hundred to take Saurashtra to 428 for four at stumps. Jadeja shared a mammoth 281-run stand for the fourth wicket with Sheldon Jackson, who smashed 181 off 156 balls with 22 fours and seven sixes. Jadeja, on the other hand, hit 18 boundaries and two sixes during his unbeaten effort.

Jadeja did not play in Saurashtra’s Ranji Trophy opener against Haryana at Rohtak. Jadeja did not play the ODI series in Sri Lanka before being rested for the limited-overs series against Australia.

Test specialist and Saurashtra captain Cheteshwar Pujara was out for 13 on Saturday while new recruit Robin Uthappa was dismissed for 37 in only his second innings for the team. Saurashtra was in a spot of bother at 59 for three before Jackson and Jadeja put their team in a commanding position.

Brief Scores:Saurashtra 428 for 4 (Jackson 181, Jadeja 150 not out; Dayal 1 for 60, Mudhasir 1 for 63) vs Jammu and Kashmir .