Test batter Sarfaraz Khan (142 not out) and stand-in skipper Siddhesh Lad (104) rescued Mumbai from 82-3 to post 332-4 against Hyderabad on Day One of their Elite Group ‘D’ Ranji Trophy match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday.
Mumbai’s early wobble
Put into bat, despite a 60-run opening stand between Akash Anand (35) and Akhil Herwadkar (27), the visitors lost their top three batters by the 32nd over. However, Sarfaraz and Lad shared a 249-run fourth-wicket stand to stage a strong comeback. Sarfaraz, who scored his first century of the season, struck 11 fours and five sixes, while Lad’s fourth hundred of the season was laced with 10 fours and two sixes.
Lad praised Sarfaraz’s attacking intent. “We lost three wickets early as [India pacer Mohammed] Siraj and the other bowlers were bowling very well. At that time, a big partnership was needed. I’m very happy that Sarfaraz got his red-ball form back, which is very important for us. His innings was solid as the wicket wasn’t easy to bat on. There was a full rough area on one side of the pitch and 5mm of grass on the other. So it was a challenging pitch to bat on,” Lad told mid-day over the phone from Hyderabad on Thursday.
When asked how they countered Siraj, who claimed one wicket for 77 from 19 overs, Lad said: “We felt Siraj might not bowl many overs, but he bowled 10 in the first session itself. He is a quality bowler and we respected his good balls and capitalised on the loose ones. I smashed him for a six with a hook and got four or five boundaries against him. Sarfaraz also hit two or three fours off Siraj. Sarfaraz’s intent was quite attacking right from the start, which helped us dominate.”
Lad expects unbeaten batter Sarfaraz and the others to help Mumbai post a big total on Day Two.
“If we counter the first 10-15 overs with the new ball well tomorrow [Friday] morning, then there’s a possibility of scoring 500 runs.” Lad added.
Mulani rushed to hospital
Meanwhile, ace left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Shams Mulani (Mumbai leading wicket-taker with 28 scalps so far) had to be rushed to a hospital in Hyderabad on Wednesday night. “Shams is admitted to the hospital due to a urine infection. He will be leaving for Mumbai tonight. [Left-arm spinner] Atharva Ankolekar flew in here from Mumbai today [Thursday] as a replacement,” Lad said on Thursday.
249
No. of runs added by Sarfaraz Khan and Siddhesh Lad for the fourth wicket
One
No. of centuries scored by Sarfaraz Khan in the Ranji Trophy this season
Brief scores
Mumbai 332-4 (S Khan 142*, S Lad 104, A Anand 35; R Rayudu 2-66) vs Hyderabad
