KARACHI: Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Sarfaraz Ahmed rated his fighting century in the second Test against New Zealand the best innings of his career thus far.
Sarfaraz, who led Pakistan fightback to hold New Zealand for the draw after a thrilling last day of the second Test, seemed pleased with his fighting century and termed it his best so far.
“First of all, I would like to thank Almighty Allah that by the will of Him, I was able to play such a brilliant knock. And, as long as the century is concerned, I think out of all the centuries I have scored, this was one of the best because it is not easy to bat in the fourth innings at any pitch,” shared Sarfaraz.
“Thus far, I have played so many crucial innings. I scored 96 in Galle and scored a century against Australia in 79 deliveries but as we all know the pressure of the fourth innings is very different and I had to take the match to the end so I think it was my best innings so far,” he added.
Sarfaraz also opened up regarding his emotional celebration after amassing his first century since his return – having already scored three consecutive half-centuries – by stating it was his dream to get his name on the honours’ board.
“There is no doubt that there were a lot of emotions behind my celebration because I got so close in the first three innings but it could not happen and I had a dream of doing it on my home ground,” Sarfaraz stated.
“As we all know that there are some new trends like when players score centuries they write their names on the honours’ board, so it was my dream too and thanks to Almighty Allah that my wish has been fulfilled,” he added.
In a question regarding Pakistan’s approach towards the second Test, Sarfaraz asserted that he had a clear mindset to go for the run chase and if two quicks wickets had not fallen then the result would have been very different.
“[Last session today] when 140 runs were left, the management said that you need to keep trying to score when the ball is there to hit. But then two wickets fell, and so we changed our style of play. If those two wickets didn’t fall then the result could’ve been something else,” shared Sarfaraz.
It is worth mentioning that Pakistan forced a sensational draw after Sarfaraz scripted a sensational pullback of the sinking ship as he played a memorable knock of 176-ball 118 to steer Pakistan out of the crisis after they were reduced 80/5 in the first session on the final day while chasing a target of 319 runs.
READ: Pakistan hold New Zealand in tense draw after Sarfaraz’s heroics
