Sarfaraz Khan on fire! Back-to-back tons send strong message to selectors ahead of Windies Tests

MUMBAI: Showcasing his laudable consistency and making an emphatic statement ahead of India's Test season starting in October against West Indies, Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan slammed his second hundred – an unbeaten 109 off just 109 balls, his innings studded with nine fours and five sixes, against Haryana in their third and final Buchi Babu Tournament match in Chennai on Tuesday. Rescuing Mumbai from a precarious position of 84 for four, the middle-order batter put on a 117-run partnership for the fifth wicket with 'keeper-bat Hardik Tamore (39, 73b, 2x4, 1x6).On August 18, Sarfaraz had begun the pre-season tournament with a bang, scoring an aggressive 138, studded with 10 fours and six sixes in Mumbai's opening match against TNCA XI. With Mumbai choosing to give all their players a chance to gain match practice, the 27-year-old had missed the last match against Bengal, but returned to the XI for the clash against Haryana.Earlier, openers Divyaansh Saxena (46, 106b, 3x4, 1x6) and Musheer Khan (30, 66b, 2x4) provided Mumbai with a solid 69-run start in 132 balls. At the time of writing this, Mumbai were 247 for six. Off-spinner Nikhil Kashyap stood out for Haryana with the ball, taking four for 20 in 13 overs.Interestingly, the Ranji Trophy giants are being captained in this match by off-spinning allrounder Tanush Kotian, while India’s Under-19 captain Ayush Mhatre had led them in the first two matches of the tournament. Kotian, pacer Tushar Deshpande, and allrounders Shams Mulani and Suryansh Shedge all returned to the Mumbai XI, with a view to preparing for the Duleep Trophy semifinal clash for West Zone from September 4 at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, as Mumbai were reinforced in what is their third and final match of the tournament.The domestic giants were, though, knocked out of the event on Monday when they drew their second match in the event, against Bengal, but ended up conceding a first-innings lead.Riding on a fine century (122, 219b, 12x4, 2x6) by opener Aditya Purohit and his epic 205-run partnership for the second wicket with Saurabh Singh (86, 228b, 4x4, 1x6), Bengal finished at 325 for five in reply to Mumbai's 266.Choosing to bat first after winning the toss at the IITM Chemplast Grounds, Mumbai slipped to 158 for six at one point, before off-spinning allrounder Himanshu Singh (59, 141b, 3x4) added 44 for the seventh wicket with Aakash Parkar (35, 30b, 3x4) and then 50 for the eighth wicket with Royston Dias (24) to take the total to a respectable level.Seamers Ishan Porel (four for 37 in 17 overs) and India seamer Mukesh Kumar (two for 29 in 18 overs) were the chief wicket-takers for Bengal. Skipper Mhatre was bowled by Porel for nine off 14 balls, including two fours.BRIEF SCORES:Vs HaryanaMumbai 248-6 (Sarfaraz Khan 109 not out, Divyaansh Saxena 46, Hardik Tamore 39, Musheer Khan 30; Nikhil Kashyap 4-20) vs Haryana.Vs BengalMumbai 266 (Himanshu Singh 59, Suved Parkar 47, Aakash Parkar 35, Harsh Aghav 33; Ishan Porel 4-37, Mukesh Kumar 2-69) drew with Bengal 325-5 (Aditya Purohit 122, Saurabh Singh 86, Anustup Majumdar 34). Bengal took the first-innings lead.