Test batter Sarfaraz Khan scored a brilliant 227 (19×4, 9×6) to help Mumbai post a mammoth 560 all out against Hyderabad on Day Two of their Elite Group ‘D’ Ranji Trophy match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Friday. In reply, Hyderabad were 138-2 at stumps.
Sarfaraz, who resumed Day 2 on his overnight score of 142, scored his fifth double century and went past 5000 first-class runs in his 61st game. “My first 5000 runs [in first-class cricket] have come quite early. It feels special because very few players have achieved this [milestone] in such few matches. It’s not easy to score runs, home and away, consistently,” Sarfaraz told mid-day over the phone from Hyderabad on Friday.
White-ball form continues
Sarfaraz was in good form in white-ball cricket, scoring, 329 runs with the help of one century and three half-centuries in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) last month. He then collected 303 runs with one century and a couple of fifties in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in the same month. However, a Ranji ton this time was elusive. This double ton is his first Ranji century of the season and has come in his sixth game.
Sarfaraz, who has represented the country in six Tests so far, credited India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav for boosting his morale to get big scores. “Surya has played a big role. I did not play the first three matches of the SMAT. And when I got picked for the fourth game [vs Assam on December 2], Surya gave me his batting position, No. 3. He advised me to play in front of the wicket rather than behind it, which I was doing often. I ended up scoring an unbeaten 100 off 47 balls in that match. His words of encouragement boosted my confidence. He has seen me playing right from my childhood, how my father [Naushad] and I have worked hard over the years. So this support from him means a lot. He’s a great captain because he always thinks about his teammates,” said Sarfaraz.
No more cheeky shots
Sarfaraz added that Surya’s words helped him understand his own game better. “Earlier, I used to play cheeky shots, behind the stumps. Even I didn’t know that I could play such good shots in front of the wicket, but after following Surya’s advice, I’ve started scoring some big runs. He later left to join the Indian team [for the NZ series] and I was a bit nervous, but he kept in touch with me over the phone thereafter,” said Sarfaraz.
Meanwhile, the big-hitter hammered nine sixes en route his 227, but he made a special mention of the one he hit straight back over the head of India pacer Mohammed Siraj. “I think today [Friday] I hit the longest six of my life [against Siraj]. I stepped out and hit it and the ball went into the second tier of the stadium. It was a new ball too,” said Sarfaraz.
Ankolekar hospitalised
Meanwhile, Mumbai’s left-arm spinner Atharva Ankolekar had to be hospitalised on Thursday. Incidentally, he had replaced Shams Mulani the previous day after the latter suffered a urine infection. Ankolekar, who remained unbeaten on 35 (5×4, 1×6), hurt a ligament while fielding, without bowling a ball. He will be returning to Mumbai on Saturday.
Five
No of first-class double centuries scored by Sarfaraz Khan
65.26
Sarfaraz’s average in first-class cricket — the fifth-highest in history
5090
No of first-class runs scored by Sarfaraz Khan, crossing the 5000-mark vs Hyderabad
