Jadeja joins likes of Don, Lara, Hammond!

Ravindra Jadeja became the first Indian batsman and only the eighth in the first-class history to hit three triple-centuries as his career-best unbeaten 320 helped Saurashtra reach a mammoth 534 for six against Railways in a Ranji Trophy Group ‘A’ match here on Sunday.

Jadeja, who had smashed 303 in the first match of the season against Gujarat, scored his second triple ton and third overall to become the only Indian cricketer to achieve such a feat.

While VVS Laxman and Wasim Jaffer have two triple centuries each in Ranji Trophy, Virender Sehwag has scored has couple of 300 plus scores in Test matches.

Jadeja joined an elite list of seven others who have three triple tons to their credit. They are Sir Don Bradman, Brian Lara, Bill Ponsford, Wally Hammond, W G Grace, Graeme Hick, and Mike Hussey.

The left-hander hit 28 fours and seven sixes during a marathon 11-and-a-half hour knock, facing 491 deliveries. Jadeja added 274 runs for the unbroken seventh-wicket partnership with Kamlesh Makvana, who is batting on 78.

Jadeja’s knock is even more praiseworthy as Saurashtra were reeling at 90/4 when the India discard joined hands with Shitanshu Kotak (68) to add 170 runs for the fifth wicket on day two of the clash.

In the process of completing a coveted triple century, Jadeja also reached 3,000 first-class runs when he crossed the 303-run mark.

Jadeja, however, hasn’t been able to replicate his lofty scores in domestic cricket in international cricket, which has been so far restricted to shorter versions of the game only.

Brief scores: Saurashtra: 534/6 in 180 overs (Ravindra Jadeja 320 batting, Kamlesh Makwana 78 batting, Shitanshu Kotak 68, Bhushan Chauhan 33; Hardik Rathod 2-84, Sanjay Bangar 2-89, Krishnakant Upadhayay 2-125) vs Railways.