Ranji Trophy Final: Madhya Pradesh counterattack in the final of Ranji Trophy, Mumbai bowlers under pressure. mumbai 374 runs by sarfaraz century madhya pradesh only lost onw wicket on day-2

Bengaluru: Sarfaraz Khan’s scintillating century helped 41-time champions Mumbai score 374 in the first innings against Madhya Pradesh on the second day of the Ranji Trophy final on Thursday. Sarfaraz played an innings of 134 runs in 243 balls, scoring his fourth century of the season. In reply, Madhya Pradesh made a good start by scoring 123 for one till the end of the day’s play. Yash Dubey 44 while Shubham Sharma is playing 41 runs. Both have shared an unbroken partnership of 76 runs for the second wicket.

The highlight of the day was Sarfaraz, who has scored 937 runs in just six matches in the current season. If Mumbai’s team bats again in this match, then they will have a chance to score 1000 runs in the session. Sarfaraz faced 243 balls in his innings and hit 13 fours and two sixes. Mumbai lost the wicket of Shams Mulani (12) in the first over on the second day, which was leg-before by Gaurav Yadav (4 for 106).

Sarfaraz taught a lesson to loose deliveries as Madhya Pradesh captain Aditya Srivastava had to spread the fielders. Sarfaraz has matured now and has been doing well since the 2019-20 (then 928 runs) season. He has also recovered from disciplinary problems early in his career that forced him to leave Mumbai for a season. The ball was moving between the clouds in the sky but Sarfaraz remained at one end on a difficult pitch to bat.

Step-treatment being done with Sarfaraz, even after scoring runs, not getting entry in Team India?
Sarfaraz smashed pacer Veteran Agarwal for a boundary from deep extra cover and deep point despite the Madhya Pradesh captain spreading the fielders to stop the boundary. He picked up four runs in T20 style by scooping it over the wicketkeeper’s head. Sarfaraz completed his century on 97 with a four over the bowler’s head while the fielders stood at long on and long off.

There is no place in the Indian Test team’s middle order but the way Sarfaraz is batting, if in the words of head coach Rahul Dravid, he is not knocking the door for selection in the team but is banging loudly. Sarfaraz made four short but effective partnerships. He took 40 for the seventh wicket with Tanush Kotian (15), 26 for the eighth wicket with Dhawal Kulkarni (01), 39 for the ninth wicket with Tushar Deshpande (06) and Mohit Awasthi (07) for the last wicket. Added 21 runs for it.