Stats: Sarfaraz Khan scores 605 runs without being dismissed in Ranji Trophy

The 2019-20 Ranji Trophy has easily been the toughest for the Mumbai team who suffered back to back defeats in the due course. Sarfaraz Khan’s form has been the only positive factor for them thus far. Sarfaraz smashed an unbeaten triple century against Uttar Pradesh to keep Mumbai alive in the Quarter-Final race. In a high-scoring match at the Wankhede, Sarfaraz’s knock helped Mumbai to overcome UP’s huge total and claim three points on the basis of a first-innings lead.

The 22-year-old smashed a quick-fire double ton in the very next match against Himachal Pradesh. He scored 226* in the 75 overs of the play that was possible on the first day of the match. However, overnight rains ensured no play was possible on the next three days. This dumped Mumbai’s hopes of gaining maximum points from this fixture and also cost a chance for Sarfaraz Khan to become the first player in FC cricket to smash triple tons in consecutive innings.

He walked into the game against Saurashtra on Tuesday in Rajkot having scored 527 runs without being dismissed across his last two FC innings. Sarfaraz added 78 runs to his unbeaten streak before getting out. Mumbai were once again in tatters losing four wickets for 88 runs in the first session. Sarfaraz cut down his shots and spent time at the crease until the Tea break. However, in the last session, he smashed two fours and a six in an over bowled by Kamlesh Makwana before being dismissed at the end of the over.

Across the last two weeks, Sarfaraz Khan aggregated 605 runs in the 753 balls he faced with 71 fours and 14 maximums. The 605 runs he scored between his last two dismissals are now the 7th most runs scored by any player in first-class cricket between two dismissals. India’s KC Ibrahim holds the record as he scored 709 runs across five innings during the 1947/48 season while no other player has scored over 650 runs in a sequence without being dismissed in this format.

Five of the seven players to score 600+ first-class runs between two dismissals are from India only. England’s Patsy Hendren was the first to join the list with 630 runs across three innings in 1929/30. Vijay Merchant broke that record scoring 634 runs in 1941/42 across three knocks. Merchant record stood about six years before Ibrahim climbed a mountain. Graeme Hick came close during the 1990 season where he scored 709 during his five successive fifty-plus scores.

Most runs between dismissals in First-Class Cricket:

(Stats as on February 4, 2020)