Sarfaraz Khan’s historic double century propels Mumbai to 536 runs against Rest of India in the Irani Cup, marking a dominant batting performance.
In the ongoing Irani Cup match, Mumbai has managed a formidable total of 536 runs for the loss of nine wickets, showcasing a powerful batting performance, particularly from Sarfaraz Khan. Sarfaraz etched his name in history as the first player to score a double century for Mumbai in the Irani Cup, remaining unbeaten at 221 runs. His significant contributions were complemented by Ajinkya Rahane, who scored 97, and Tanush Kotian, who added 64 runs. The Rest of India (ROI) bowlers endured a challenging day on the field, forcing them to bowl for an exhausting 138 overs in Lucknow.
The second day began with Mumbai resuming their innings at 237 for four. Sarfaraz and Rahane took cautious steps at the start, managing early threats before Rahane was dismissed for 97 runs after being caught out by a bouncer from Yash Dayal, just three runs shy of a century. The timing of this dismissal was critical, occurring just before the new ball became available.
As the innings progressed, ROI found success with Mukesh Kumar’s bowling, who dismissed Shams Mulani, pushing Mumbai to 280 for six. Subsequently, Tanush Kotian joined Sarfaraz in the middle, and the duo began their innings with careful intent. Initially forming a strong partnership, they slowly began to capitalize on the loose deliveries from the ROI bowlers, thereby steadily increasing the score.
A pivotal moment occurred when Prasidh Krishna dropped a tough catch off Sarfaraz’s bat when he was on 97 runs, a missed opportunity that proved costly for the ROI bowling unit. Shortly thereafter, Sarfaraz reached his 15th first-class century, solidifying his status as a reliable run-scorer within the team.
The afternoon session further highlighted Mumbai’s batting superiority. The team scored an impressive 111 runs across 26 overs without losing a wicket, achieving a commendable run rate of 4.27. Sarfaraz set a brisk tone during this timeframe, aggressively targeting both Manav Suthar and Prasidh Krishna. In the 105th over, he struck Suthar for a combined six and four, while Kotian followed suit by hitting Saransh Jain for a six two deliveries later. This scintillating performance propelled Sarfaraz to 150 runs, while Mumbai crossed the 400-run mark with relative ease. By the end of the session, Mumbai had reached 449 for six.
Despite the aggressive approach, ROI found brief success shortly after the tea break when Prasidh Krishna dismissed Kotian with a slower delivery, followed by an lbw decision against Mohit Avasthi just two balls later. However, Mumbai’s batting depth was illustrated by Shardul Thakur, who entered the game at number ten, providing Sarfaraz with the necessary comfort to play his natural game without the pressure of consolidating the innings.
Continuing his dominant display, Sarfaraz punished Suthar’s bowling, hitting a six and a four in consecutive overs. His relentless scoring culminated in achieving a double-century off 253 balls during the 127th over. Notably, while former Mumbai players Wasim Jaffer, Ravi Shastri, and Yashasvi Jaiswal have previously scored double centuries in the Irani Cup, they did so while representing Rest of India.
As the day wore on, the match faced interruptions due to multiple visits from the physio, limiting the play to just 18 overs during the final session. Nonetheless, Mumbai postured well past the 500-run mark. Sarfaraz fortuitously overturned a decision when Mukesh claimed a caught-behind dismissal. Instead, Sarfaraz continued to build on his score, reaching 211 runs without significant setbacks. The day’s play concluded with Thakur out for 36 runs in the final over, bowled by Saransh Jain.
If this match concludes in a draw, Mumbai will secure the Irani Cup as their first-innings lead will suffice to claim the trophy. With Sarfaraz’s record-breaking performance and strong partnerships throughout the innings, Mumbai positioned themselves advantageously as they head into pivotal moments of the match, aiming to cement their legacy in this prestigious tournament.
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