17-year-old Sarfaraz Khan shines in rain struck RR v RCB match
Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) batting proved that even when their top order fails, the middle order is strong enough to win matches on their own, even though luck wasn’t on their side today. In what seemed to be RCB’s game, the rain gods decided to play spoilsport.
The quick dismissals of the openers Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle had got the Bangalore fans worried till AB de Villiers came out at number 3 and steadied the innings. AB scored the highest runs for RCB (57 off 45), before getting run out to Deepak Hooda.
The star of the day was undoubtedly the young Sarfaraz Khan. The 17-year-old batsman, who would have been 8 when the first ever IPL match was played, stole the show with his 45-run blinder of 21 balls at a phenomenal strike rate of 214.28. It is mighty impressive coming from him at this age, and at this stage. It was heartening to see 43-year-old Tambe bowl to the 17-year-old Sarfaraz.
Tim Southee, who came in place of Chris Morris after missing the previous three matches for Rajasthan Royals, scalped the wickets of both the openers, and emerged as the pick of the bowlers out of the rather lukewarm Rajasthan bowling unit.
Dinesh Karthik and Mandeep Singh chipped in with 27 runs each, and helped take the total to 200, but the credit goes to young Sarfaraz, who remained not out till the end.
The right-handed Mumbai batsman, had previously impressed spectators with his performance in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup, where he scored 211 runs at an average of over 70.
Royal Challengers looked in control of the game with a great total on board, but luck and weather weren’t on their side, and young Sarfaraz perhaps missed out on a potential Man of the Match award.