Pujara scores 386 in run-up to Challengers

Cheteshwar Pujara, the Saurashtra captain, has scored 386 against Maharashtra in the Under-22 CK Nayudu Trophy in Rajkot - an innings of significant timing as it comes a week before the start of the Challenger Trophy, featuring national players and those on the fringes.

The innings, though not recorded in a first-class tournament, was weighty, lasting eleven and a half hours and including 38 fours and five sixes.

Pujara said he thought he had a chance to get the triple-century on day three of the four-day game. "I was batting on 100-odd runs and Ravindra Jadeja got out after a big partnership," he told Cricinfo. "I knew I had to bat with responsibility as we were chasing 368 for points. I knew I had to score a big one, a least a double-hundred. I was batting on 240 when the last day started; that's wthen I knew I could go past 300." Saurashtra got three points from the match on the basis of the178-run first-innings lead after Pujara led them to 546 for 8 in reply to Maharashtra's 368.

Pujara, a right-hand middle order batsman, will play for India Green in the Challengers. He was Saurashtra's top run-getter in the Ranji Trophy last season with 907 runs at 53.35, including three centuries and also toured Israel with the India A side.