Videos of Indian middle-order player Sarfaraz Khan’s daring ramp shot against England’s express bowler Mark Wood at Dharamshala on Friday went popular on social media. It was one of several amazing shots he hit against Wood on his route to a 60-ball 56, but it was probably the most casual.
Sarfaraz Khan began by playing Wood’s 140+ kph rockets with caution. But, in the 76th over, he hit the first ball over the fast bowler’s head. The following ball was back-of-the-length, and the third was faster and shorter, aimed for his chest.
Playing it to the leg-side with fielders waiting may have been hazardous, so Sarfaraz Khan arched his back, sat down, and opened the face of his bat toward third man. The ball slid past his bat’s sticker on its way to the deep third boundary.
Watch a video of it here.
That shot got him to 27. In Wood’s following over, he struck another four and a six before Ben Stokes took him out. However, Wood’s anger were captured on video. He also said a few things to the Mumbaikar at the non-striker’s end.
Sarfaraz Khan appeared to be on track to get a massive hundred. However, he handed up his wicket with the first ball after the tea break, edging a short and wide one from Shoaib Bashir to Joe Root at slip.
It was Sarfaraz Khan’s third half-century in his debut series, and it may have been the most memorable due to the circumstances. India were 279/3 after losing Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in eight balls. He absorbed pressure and handled the diversity of high speed and spin better than many predicted.
India extend domination after Sarfaraz Khan’s 50
Sarfaraz Khan’s third half-century in his first series was possibly the most memorable due to the circumstances. India were 279/3 after losing both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in eight balls. He absorbed pressure and handled the diversity of fast pace and spin better than many anticipated.
