Sarfaraz Khan's 66-ball 101, which contained 17 fours and a six, which helped India score a four-wicket win over South Africa in the U-19 quadrangular at Vizag, therefore qualifies as a special knock.
India were in the doldrums at 93 for four when the 15-year-old Mumbai lad walked in. Sarfaraz, however, changed the course of the game, adding 159 for the fifth wicket with Ricky Bhui to help India run away to their second win on the trot.
Earlier, he had turned out to be the most economical bowler for India, giving away just 36 runs in 10 overs. In the first game, where India thrashed Zimbabwe by 148 runs, Sarfaraz had hit 55 and taken two wickets with his leg spin.
Naturally, the youngster won plenty of praise from India Colts' coach Bharat Arun. "He is a gusty player, who reads the situation well. He has shots all around the wicket and looks even better while playing straight. He uses his feet well and can play cheeky strokes too," Arun told TOI from Vizag on Wednesday.
The former India pacer was also impressed with Sarfaraz's bowling skills.
Explaining the reason behind playing Sarfaraz at No. 6, Arun said: "He knows when to rotate strike, when to accelerate. He is an ideal finisher and an exciting player," he added.
Sarfaraz first came into the limelight when he slammed 439 in a Harris Shield game-then a World Record in inter-school cricket. Along with the talented Arman Jaffer, he was included in the Mumbai probables' list a few months back which showed refreshing enterprise by the selectors.
"Practising with the Mumbai Ranji team has helped his game immensely and the selectors and coaches deserve praise," said Sarfaraz's father Naushad Khan. "I ensured he played plenty of matches and made him practise for hours on an artificial wicket in the indoor nets below our house," Naushad revealed.
"In today's cricket, you require such players," quipped Mumbai chief selector Sudhir Naik, before adding: "He should be
playing a higher grade of cricket soon."
For former India batsman Pravin Amre, it is Sarfaraz's 'match temperament' that stands out. "He reads a match situation quickly and that is something you learn by playing in the maidans and not academies. (Ramakant) Achrekar Sir used to make us play many games in the maidans and Sarfaraz is going through a similar drill," says Amre.
Former India seamer Balwinder Singh Sandhu too believes in Sarfaraz's promise, but cautions against pushing him too much.
"We must remember that he's only 15. He is a happy-go-lucky teenager and we must let him be, rather than try to discipline him too much or drill cricket into his head all the time. We must ensure he keeps his focus, works hard and doesn't get distracted," says Sandhu.
Brief Scores:
South Africa U-19: 270-8 in 50 overs (C Fortuin 90, L Brown 69; C Milind 3-52, A Lamba 3-55) lost to India U-19: 275-6 in 39.3 overs (S Khan 101, R Bhui 94 not out) by four wickets.
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