Mumbai's cricket team delivered a powerful performance, moving closer to the knockout stage of the Vijay Hazare Trophy with a commanding 87-run victory over Goa in a Group C match on Wednesday. The star of the show was the explosive batsman Sarfaraz Khan, who signed off the year 2025 with a breathtaking innings.
Sarfaraz Khan's Blistering Century Steals the Show
The match, played at the Jaipuria Vidyalaya ground, was dominated by Sarfaraz Khan's incredible batting display. He hammered a whirlwind 157 runs from just 75 deliveries, an innings studded with 14 massive sixes and 9 fours. This was his third century in List A cricket, and he reached the three-figure mark in only 56 balls, continuing his rich vein of form from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
He was particularly severe on the Goa spinners, hitting ten of his sixes off Lalit Yadav and Darshan Misal. Sarfaraz was eventually dismissed in the 42nd over while eyeing a double hundred. His dismissal did not slow Mumbai down, as they amassed over 100 runs in the final eight overs to post a mammoth total of 444 for 8.
Mumbai's Batting Fireworks and Bowling Discipline
Mumbai's innings was a collective effort of power-hitting. Musheer Khan contributed a solid 60 off 66 balls, while wicketkeeper Hardik Tamore scored a quickfire 53 from just 28 deliveries. The lower order, including Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, and captain Shardul Thakur, added rapid runs to propel the score. In total, Mumbai hit 35 fours and 25 sixes.
In reply, Goa fought valiantly but were never truly in control of the chase. Lalit Yadav (64), Abhinav Tejrana (100), and Deepraj Gaonkar (70) kept the scoreboard ticking during the middle overs, but the target proved too steep. They finished at 357 for 9 in their 50 overs.
Captain Shardul Thakur led the bowling attack brilliantly, taking 3 wickets for just 20 runs in his six overs. The match also marked the return of Yashasvi Jaiswal, who missed the opening week due to gastritis. He scored 46 runs and also bowled leg-breaks, picking up two wickets while conceding 52 runs in three overs.
Road to the Quarter-Finals
This victory marks Mumbai's fourth consecutive win in the group stage. With this momentum, just one more win from their remaining three matches should be enough to secure their place in the quarter-finals of the prestigious National One Day Championship. The team's dominant form, spearheaded by Sarfaraz Khan's explosive batting, makes them a formidable contender for the title.
