Sheldon Jackson struck an unbeaten century to take Saurashtra to a strong position by reaching 280 for three in their second innings on the third and penultimate day of their Ranji Trophy cricket match against Gujarat here today.
Jackson (124 batting) stitches a 212-run third wicket partnership with Arpit Vasavada (88) to steer Saurashtra out of a potentially slippery situation at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
Left-arm spinner Akshar Patel, who will fly to Australia after this match as a replacement of injured Ravindra Jadeja in India's Test squad for the ongoing series, took two Saurashtra wickets for 69 runs.
Starting their second innings trailing by 41 runs, Saurashtra were still a run short of drawing level when they lost their second wicket, that of opener Bhushan Chauhan (19).
Vasavada and Jackson, however, snuffed out the danger and remained together for 60.5 overs, before Akshar Patel dismissed Vasavada for a 211-ball 88.
Jackson saw the day through in Jaydev Shah's (17 batting) company, and went to stumps batting on 124, having faced 203 balls, and struck 10 fours and a six.
Brief Scores:
Saurashtra: 207 and 280/3 in 90 overs (Arpit Vasavada 88, Sheldon Jackson 124 batting; Akshar Patel 2/69).
Gujarat: 248 all out in 90.5 overs.
