New Delhi: India and Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan on Thursday dedicated his recent double-hundred to brother Musheer Khan, who is currently recovering from a fracture in the neck region. Ahead of the Irani Cup clash between Mumbai and Rest of India, Musheer endured a road accident while traveling with his father in the outskirts of Lucknow.
The 19-year-old top order batter was subsequently ruled out of the Irani Cup. In his absence, elder brother Sarfaraz marshalled the Mumbai innings with his splendorous double-hundred, grinding the Rest of India bowlers for close to two days.
Sarfaraz was unbeaten on 222 after Mumbai were bowled out for 537 early on Day 3. He became the first player from Mumbai cricket team to record a double-hundred, with his score was the fifth best individual score in the Irani Cup. After the gameplay of Day 3, where Mumbai were 248 runs ahead in the first innings, Sarfaraz said he scored one part of his double-century for himself and the other one for Musheer.
“It has been an emotional week for me. I had promised my family and teammates that ‘if I am set, if I cross the fifty, I will score a double hundred – a hundred for me and hundred for my brother (Musheer),” Sarfaraz said, as quoted by Sportstar.
“If he (Musheer) would have played, Abbu (father Naushad) would have been prouder. Unfortunately, he met with an accident. So, I thought I have to somehow score a double ton in this match,” he added.
Abhimanyu Easwaran leads ROI’s fightback
In response to Sarfaraz’s fireworks, Rest of India vice-captain Abhimanyu Easwaran showed dogged efforts to overcome the mammoth Mumbai score in the first innings in order to sought for a decent lead. The Bengal batter was unbeaten on 151 at the end of the day, having smashed 12 fours and a six so far in his determined knock.
Wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel managed to build on a key partnership with Easwaran to ensure no damage was caused to ROI later in the day, though a mountain still needs to be climbed with 248 runs to score for a substantial lead.
Sarfaraz was unbeaten on 222 after Mumbai were bowled out for 537 early on Day 3. He became the first player from Mumbai cricket team to record a double-hundred, with his score was the fifth best individual score in the Irani Cup. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
