Medium pacer Mukesh Kumar rattled Saurashtra with some high quality swing bowling before Sarfaraz Khan continued his dream run with an attractive hundred to put Rest of India in the driver’s seat on the opening day of the Irani Trophy match here on Saturday.
At stumps, Sarfaraz’s unbeaten 125 off 126 balls took Rest of India to 205 for 3 after Mukesh’s swing and scorching pace from young guns Kuldeep Sen (3/41) and Umran Malik (3/25) demolished the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy champions for a meagre 98 in 24.5 overs.
In the presence of chief selector Chetan Sharma and his colleague Sunil Joshi, Sarfaraz gave an exhibition of his wide array of strokes that included 19 boundaries and three sixes.
Coming in when the Rest were tottering at 18 for 3 in the post lunch session, Sarfaraz added 185 in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand with Hanuma Vihari (62 batting).
On a track that offered good bounce and some early moisture aiding a bit of nip in the air, Bengal pacer Mukesh (4/23 in 10 overs) literally destroyed Saurashtra with his first spell as he made the batters play every ball.
Brief Scores: Saurashtra 98 (Mukesh Kumar 4/23, Kuldeep Sen 3/41, Umran Malik 3/25). RoI 205/3 (Sarfaraz Khan 125 batting, Hanuma Vihari 62 batting).
