- Dec 2, 2024
- Mar 30, 2023
Sarfaraz Ahmed has smashed his fourth Test Hundred against New Zealand. The Southpaw came to the crease with Pakistan at 80-5, The Men in Green were 0-2 overnight and got themselves into a big hole by losing three wickets in quick succession in the morning. This included the wicket of Babar Azam.
The situation in which Pakistan were in, they needed something special, and their senior pro stood up to the occasion. It was Sarfaraz Ahmed. He came, saw and conquered. It was a workman-like innings. He got into the middle bided his time and blunted the New Zealand bowlers. He smashed an unbeaten 1113 off 159 balls with 9 fours and 1 six.
The wicketkeeper bat proved that he is like fine wine as he sent a message that he could not be left out of the test side and that there is no substitute for experience. In his 52nd Test he showed that he has nerves of steel and that he cannot be so easily written off.
This century that he has crafted to get Pakistan out of troubled waters has more than made up for his glaring errors behind the stumps in the second innings. In his 50th Test, he made a comeback into the Pakistan Test side, it was a memorable return as he scored 86 off 153 balls with 9 fours. In the second innings of the landmark test, he made 53 off 76 balls with 7 fours.
In the second Test as well and that being his 51st. He again batted with elan to score a store-filled 78 off 109 balls with 10 fours. Under the reign of the newly appointed Pakistan Cricket Board chief Najam Sethi, according to reports Mickey Arthur will be brought back as the coach of the Pakistan team and Sarfraz was also brought back into the side under the Sethi regime.
Sarfaraz has had a good bonding with coach Aurthur who led them to a Champions Trophy triumph in 2017 when Sarfaraz led the side. Sarfaraz has fulfilled the saying old is gold. Twitter was abuzz, let us take a look at the reactions here-
https://twitter.com/sehwansharif3/status/1611329130179559426?s=20&t=ayt76yy0Pyzd6vtNxAthjw
What a knock!!
What a time !@SarfarazA_54 4th International and 1st century at home soil on his 1st Home series.π#SarfarazAhmed #Sarfaraz #Kaaptan#PakvsNZ pic.twitter.com/khcTBG4KbN— Farrukh KaΨ΄MiRi (@FarrukhNaeem180) January 6, 2023
https://twitter.com/AvinashArya09/status/1611323469307969536?s=20&t=ayt76yy0Pyzd6vtNxAthjw
Once Ramiz Raja said "Sarfaraz Ahmed's career is almost over" #SarfarazAhmed pic.twitter.com/0m2lBszuPf
— GulRaiz (@Gulraiz00) January 4, 2023
If 'Prove them wrong' had a face/celeberation!! ππ @SarfarazA_54 #PakvsNZ #SarfarazAhmed pic.twitter.com/53wtXyZSlf
— Ali Younis (@aliyounis83) January 6, 2023
This picture depicts;
β No. of Fifties scored by Sarfaraz Ahmed in his last 6 Test innings.
β A silent message to everyone who doubted and criticized him.#SarfarazAhmed #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/2qsLSDHvnV— Fahad Abbasi π΅π° (@thefahadabbasi) January 6, 2023
4 innings, 4 fifties for Sarfaraz Ahmed WHAT A COMEBACK FOR HIM π pic.twitter.com/HFil8rpGlo
— Muskan π΅π° (@Mussskey) January 6, 2023
https://twitter.com/AvinashArya09/status/1611328097219117059?s=20&t=ayt76yy0Pyzd6vtNxAthjw
https://twitter.com/AvinashArya09/status/1611324999725649922?s=20&t=ayt76yy0Pyzd6vtNxAthjw
One of the finest 4th innings hundred in recent times, Pakistan was 80 for 5 while chasing 319 runs and then Sarfaraz Ahmed smashed hundred from 135 balls. pic.twitter.com/RwYc5JMXeo
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 6, 2023