Wriddhiman Saha Scores 20-Ball Century: Wicketkeeper-Batsman Ready for IPL 2018 As he Smashes 14 Sixes in a Local T20 Match
It took him only 12 balls to reach his half-century. After he crossed the 50-run mark, Saha launched 6 consecutive sixes in an over.
Mumbai, March 24: India’s Test wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha smashed a 20-ball century in a match of J.C. Mukherjee T-20 local cricket tournament, earlier today. Yes, you heard that right! It took only 20 balls for Saha to score a scintillating hundred; he remained unbeaten on 102 runs as his team Mohun Bagan defeated B.N.R Recreation Club by 10 wickets. It seems that Saha is preparing for the Indian Premier League (IPL) in some style!
Wriddhiman Saha, who will be playing for SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL this year, smashed 14 sixes and 4 fours in his explosive knock. Saha’s century helped his team chase the modest target of 152 runs in only 7 overs. It took him only 12 balls to reach his half-century. After he crossed the 50-run mark, Saha launched 6 consecutive sixes in an over.
The right-hand batsman ended with a strike rate of 510.00, while his partner Subhomoy Das remained not out on 43 runs off 22 balls. Saha began his innings with a single and then the rest they say is history. Saha was in such form that he ended the match, hitting the winning runs, with a six too.
In the first innings, Saha was instrumental behind the stumps. The 33-year-old wicket-batsman took four catches and also effected a run-out, as the opposition was restricted to 151/7 in their 20 overs. The match was organized by Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) at the Kalighat ground.
A glimpse at the match's scoreboard where Wriddhiman Saha scored 102 off only 20 balls:
Talking to the reporters after the match, Saha said, “I don't know whether this is a record or not. I tried to play different shots and had that in mind ahead of the IPL. From ball one I could feel the ball was hitting the middle of my bat and so I went for it.”
Wriddhiman Saha, who isn’t on selectors’ radar in the limited-overs format currently, said, “It is up to the selectors. I have to keep performing whenever I get an opportunity.” Talking about opening the innings in the shortest format of the game, Saha said, “I always like to open the batting in T20s. But we have Warner and Shikhar (in the IPL) there so I am ready to bat anywhere for my team.”
With this stupendous form, the SunRisers Hyderabad team management might be tempted to tinker their set opening order, of Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner, if the need arises. It is early to say that this inning is some record or not yet, but with Wriddhiman Saha in such supreme form, the batsman would be looking forward to carrying his form in the 11th VIVO IPL too.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 24, 2018 07:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).