WATCH: Sarfaraz Khan slams five consecutive boundaries to Akash Deep

Young batter Sarfaraz Khan smashed five boundaries on the trot on Day 3 of the ongoing Duleep Trophy. India B lost three quick wickets in their second innings, but that didn’t spoil Sarfaraz’s spirit, who launched a counter-attack from one end. In the 10th over of the game, the Mumbai batter left the first ball but decided to punish Akash in the remaining five.

He opened his arms and played through the gully to pick up a boundary in the second ball of the over. In the third ball, he drove and placed it between the covers. Akash bowled an inswinger in the following delivery, but Sarfaraz flicked it quite easily to complete his hat-trick of boundaries. He played a brilliant off-drive to pick his fourth boundary in the over. Akash bowled short to complete the over, but the ball didn’t bounce much and Sarfaraz hit it through square.

Batting at the other end, Rishabh Pant was delighted with Sarfaraz’s aggressive batting as well. He plays the same role in the Indian team as far as red-ball cricket is concerned, and the keeper-batter himself has been playing quite well in the second innings of the match. Shubman Gill picked up a brilliant catch to dismiss him early in the first innings, but that didn’t demotivate him, as Pant is once again batting aggressively.

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Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal flopped in the second innings as well. The opener made nine runs before Khaleel Ahmed got the better of him. Experienced opener Abhimanyu Easwaran scored just four runs, while Musheer Khan failed to open his tally after his phenomenal century on the opening day of the match. Akash impressed with the ball in the second innings so far, picking up two wickets.

Also Read: Shubman Gill takes magnificent catch to dismiss Rishabh Pant on Day 1

The focus is on Kuldeep Yadav, who struggled in the first innings. The star spinner is fighting for a spot in the Test team alongside Axar Patel, who has done well in the Duleep Trophy. If Kuldeep flops again, he might be India’s fourth spin option in the upcoming Test marathon.