Sarfaraz Khan played his first domestic first-class match in three years after he batted for Mumbai while Mandeep Singh continued his solid form for Punjab in round four of the Ranji Trophy this week. Here's how the Kings XI Punjab players fared:
Sarfaraz Khan is last man standing
In the Elite Group B match between Mumbai and Karnataka at the Bandra Kurla Complex, Sarfaraz Khan made his return to the first-class scene for the home team, whom he was representing after five years. He scored just eight in the first innings but was rock-solid in the second innings as he was left unbeaten on 71 (140b, 8x4s, 2x6s). He forged an 83-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Shams Mulani after Mumbai were tottering at 26/4 but thereafter, he found no support from the other end. While Karun Nair in the other team didn't score much, the Karnataka captain left the field happy as his side won the match by five wickets.
Mandeep Singh yet to dismissed below fifty
After scoring a century in Punjab's Ranji Trophy opener against Rajasthan and a double against Hyderabad, captain Mandeep Singh continued his rich vein of form in the championship. He had scored 59 against Vidarbha and then top-scored with 81 when Punjab scored 313 against Delhi. Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the bowlers for Punjab as he registered 3/73 in 26 overs as the opposition managed 339 to take a slender 26-run lead. Mandeep Singh was unbeaten on eight in the second innings before rain intervened and the match was drawn.
It was Arshdeep Singh’s second successive three-wicket haul. His skipper Mandeep Singh, meanwhile, has scored 474 runs in his four matches so far at an astonishing average of 158.00.
Four for Ishan Porel
In a rain-interrupted match, Ishan Porel scalped 4/62 as Gujarat folded for 194, with the pacer giving ample support to Akash Deep, who picked up the remaining six wickets. Ishan Porel would have been particularly happy with the wicket of Parthiv Patel, the former India international and Gujarat captain, who could manage only eight runs. It was Ishan Porel’s second successive four-fer after his 4/50 against Andhra Pradesh in the preceding match. The 21-year-old has taken 12 wickets in his three Ranji Trophy matches so far with a commendable average of 16.75.
