R Smaran's unbeaten 126 lifts Rest of India to 306 for eight in Irani Cup

R Smaran scored an unbeaten 126 to guide Rest of India to 306 for eight on the third day of the Irani Cup against Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar. The 23-year-old left-hander came to the crease with RoI struggling at 130 for four in their second innings and added an unbroken 109-run partnership with Mukesh Choudhary for the ninth wicket.

Smaran reached his century off 131 balls with 15 fours and five sixes, surviving an lbw decision on 104 when Umar Nazir was found to have overstepped. His innings helped RoI establish a lead of 265 runs after Jammu and Kashmir had posted 278 in their first innings.

National selectors Pragyan Ojha and Shiv Sundar Das were present at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium to watch the Karnataka batter's performance. Rest of India had earlier scored 237 in their first innings.