Kerala’s Mohammed Azharuddeen smashes second-fastest century in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

He missed Rishabh Pant’s report by 5 balls however powered Kerala to their first-ever win over Mumbai in any format

Kerala’s Mohammed Azharuddeen smashed the second-fastest century within the Syed Mushtaq Ali, India’s home T20 event, as he reached the landmark in 37 balls against a Mumbai attack led by Dhawal Kulkarni on the Wankhede Stadium. Azharuddeen missed Rishabh Pant‘s report by 5 balls but it surely was nonetheless the joint-third-fastest T20 century by an Indian. It was additionally the primary hundred by a Kerala batsman within the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and sealed their highest-ever chase within the event as they beat Mumbai for the primary time in any format.

Kerala had been chasing 197 after 40s from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Aditya Tare and helpful cameos from Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube. Azharuddeen began the innings with Robin Uthappa, who was sedate solely as compared, and the 2 placed on 129 runs in 9.3 overs earlier than Uthappa a 23-ball 33. Quickly after, Azharuddeen obtained to his century off left-arm spinner Atharva Ankolekar. Pant’s report of 32 balls, which got here for Delhi against Himachal Pradesh in 2017-18, although was by no means actually below risk.

After being on 89 in 31 balls, Azharuddeen slowed down, scoring 1, 1, 0 and 1 to get to 92 in 35 balls earlier than a six off Mulani and a two took him to the landmark. He remained unbeaten on 137 off 54 balls, with 9 fours and 11 sixes, as Kerala cantered to victory by eight wickets in 15.5 overs.

Azharuddeen, the 26-year-old, obtained off the mark off the third ball of the innings – his first – with a boundary off Kulkarni, and took a particular liking to Tushar Deshpande, the opposite new-ball bowler. Within the second over of the innings, bowled by Deshpande, Azharuddeen hit one six and two fours as 20 runs had been scored. Deshpande went off the assault however returned within the sixth, and Azharuddeen hit him for 2 fours and two sixes because the over went for 23, taking his rating to 65 on the finish of the powerplay.

Probably the most noteworthy side of Azharuddeen’s innings was his pull photographs, however he did play quite a lot of pleasing drives too, and located his runs off Ankolekar and Shams Mulani primarily within the V, at the same time as he slapped the skilled Kulkarni over his head for 2 sixes, each off the again foot.

The report for the quickest T20 century is within the identify of Chris Gayle – he obtained to the mark off simply 30 balls when he hit 175 not out off 66 balls for the Royal Challengers Bangalore towards the Pune Warriors India in IPL 2013. Then comes Pant’s effort. Rohit Sharma’s 35-ball ton towards Sri Lanka in a T20I ranks second amongst Indians, whereas Azharuddeen has pulled stage with Yusuf Pathan, who hit a 37-ball century for the Rajasthan Royals towards the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2010.

Azharuddeen has by no means featured within the IPL earlier than, however this century is a well timed step in that path, given the IPL 2021 auction is scheduled for February.