Saurashtra were struggling to avoid an innings defeat against Maharashtra on the third-day of their four-day Ranji Trophy Plate Group 'B' match at Rajkot on Tuesday.

Saurashtra, who conceded a 266 runs first innings lead to Maharashtra, lost opener A Merchant and skipper S Kotak for just 65 runs in their second essay. They still need 201 more to avoid an innings defeat.

K Vaghela (28) and J Shah (6) were at the crease at the draw of stumps.

For Maharashtra Iqbal Siddiqui and B K Adhav took one wicket each.

Earlier, Maharashtra resuming at their overnight score of 275 for six, ended their innings at 443. K Khadilkar, top scored for the visitors with 104 runs.

Scoreboard:

Saurashtra first innings: 177 

Maharashtra first innings:
D Jadhav     run  out                         67
N Godbole lbw S Jobanputra            30
H Kanitkar     b N Doshi                   60
K Aphale    b R Dhruv                      17
S Shah   c S Kotak  b R Dhruv          36
R Khirid   c P Bhatt b S Jobanputra      4
K Khadikar c S Kotak   b R Dhruv     104
S Satbhai   run  out                                 66
I Siddiqui    c A Kamliya  b J Shah          8
C Kulkarni     not  out                            29
K Adhav  c S Kotak   b R Dhruv             0

Extras: (b-14, lb-4, nb-4)                     22

Total (all out, 161.5 overs)                 443

Fall of wickets: 1-96, 2-108, 3-145, 4-207, 5-212, 6-237, 7-353, 8-36, 9-443

Bowling: S Jobanputra 34-4-121-2, K Vaghela 25-8-62-0, A Merchant 3-0-8-0, R Dhruv 30.5-8-69-4, N Odedara 34-11-59-0, N Doshi 22-5-64-1, S Kotak 5-2-13-0, J Shah 8-2-29-1.

Saurashtra 2nd innings:
K Vaghela not out                            28
A Merchant  c Satbhai   b K Adhav  20
S Kotak   lbw    I Siddiqui                  4
J Shah      not out                                6

Extras: (b-2, lb-2, nb-3)                      7

Total (for 2 wkts, 43 overs)                 65

Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-55.

Bowling: I Siddiqui 7-2-17-1, R Khirid 9-4-20-0, C Kulkarni 4-2-5-0, K Khadikar 9-4-8-0, K Adhav 10-5-10-1, H Kanitkar 4-3-1-0.