Sarfaraz Khan becomes first batsman to score a double century for Mumbai in Irani Cup

Domestic run machine slams 221* vs ROI, props up Mumbai to 536 for 9 on Day Two of Irani CupLUCKNOW: Sarfaraz Khan was batting on 95 when Rest of India's left-arm spinner Manav Suthar managed to fox the Mumbai batter, who in his endeavour to bring up his century with a maximum, failed to reach the ball and ended up skying it. Prasidh Krishna ran back from mid-on but couldn't hold on to the catch.That was the only chance Sarfaraz gave throughout the day as his well-made double century and a mammoth 183-run association for the seventh wicket with Tanush Kotian (64, 124b; 6x4) helped Mumbai end Day Two at 536/9 in the Irani Cup at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.At stumps, Sarfaraz was batting on 221 from 276 balls with the help of 25 fours and four sixes with debutant Juned Khan (0) at the other end. In the process, he became the first batter to score a double century for Mumbai in the Irani Cup. The previous highest belonged to Ramnath Parkar, who scored 195 way back in 1972. So far, it's the sixth highest individual innings in the history of the competition.On a pitch that had nothing for the bowlers, RoI had done well to scalp two quick wickets and were looking to run past the Mumbai lower-order.Skipper Ajinkya Rahane (97, 234b; 7x4, 1x6), who was eyeing his first century in domestic cricket since Jan 2023, was caught off guard by a Yash Dayal bouncer and could only glove it to Dhruv Jurel. Shams Mulani's (5) stumps were rattled by Mukesh Kumar as soon as RoI took the second new ball.But Sarfaraz and Kotian saw off the new ball to grind out their opponents. Sarfaraz slowed down after two quick wickets but upped the ante as the day progressed and was scoring at a strike rate of 80.07.While Sarfaraz has been unstoppable on the domestic circuit for the last four seasons, Tanush Kotian is a decent batter. He has played crucial knocks for Mumbai throughout his career and was the second-highest scorer for them in the Ranji Trophy last season with 502 runs.The only other time Sarfaraz played a loose shot was when Dayal managed to induce an edge early in the day, but the lack of bounce meant it couldn't reach Jurel on the full. Other than that, it was smooth sailing for the 26-year-old.Sarfaraz had made scoring big knocks in domestic cricket a habit and once set, he did the same on Day Two. All RoI bowlers, including Mukesh, Dayal and Prasidh-all auditioning for the pace bowling spot for the Australia tour-tried all day to trap the right-hand batter. They bowled just outside his off-stump to induce an edge, but were unsuccessful, they tried to bowl into his body, but the result was the same.Anything in his range, he would drive it through the covers or mid-wicket. A bit short and he would jump onto the backfoot to punch it through covers, backward point region or guide it through square-leg. Targeting his shoulder, no problem, he would tap it in the third man region or for a maximum over fine-leg besides showing an immaculate defensive technique.He reached his 150 in 203 balls and soon after started cramping. But RoI didn't see the back of him as he battled those cramps till tea break and came back refreshed to complete his double century.Mumbai last won the Irani Cup in 1997-98 and since then have been on the losing side on eight occasions. Their batters, though, have given them the hope of ending that long wait.