Sarfaraz Khan (Image credit: Instagram)
captain Siddhesh Lad missed a century, scoring 87 off 188 balls, with 14 fours and a six While Sarfaraz anchored the innings. Wicketkeeper-batter Akash Anand was unbeaten on 58 off 152 balls, while Musheer Khan made 57 off 137 balls. Lad and Musheer added 122 runs for the third wicket, while Lad and Sarfaraz put on 68 for the fourth before the captain was caught at mid-off. Delhi captain Ayush Badoni led from the front with a careerbest 217 off 246 balls, including 22 fours and two sixes, against Gujarat in their Elite Group C match at the Palam ‘B’ ground in New Delhi.
Sarfaraz remained unbeaten on 139 off 213 balls, with 18 fours, as Mumbai reached 398/4 on Day Two of their Group D clash, taking their lead to 258 runs. His first-class average stood at 62.92 going into the match. Overlooked for both India’s Test squad and the India A team for the New Zealand tour, Sarfaraz once again underlined his credentials as a prolific domestic run-scorer. Sarfaraz had been included in India’s Test squad as an injury replacement for B Sai Sudharsan for the Sri Lanka series in Aug, but missed out on the New Zealand tour after Sudharsan regained fitness.
Sarfaraz has also not featured for India A since last year’s home series against South Africa A.