Ranji Trophy: Youngsters Saif, Sarfaraz hit big tons as UP dominate

Moradabad: Playing in his second first-class game, young Mohammad Saif missed out on a double century by two runs, while another youngster Sarfaraz Khan smashed 155 off 164 balls as Uttar Pradesh posted a mammoth 656/5 in their Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh here.

At stumps on day 2, the hosts rode on 19-year-old Saif's 198 off 287 balls, and Sarfaraz's blazing knock to pile up a huge total after batting 180 overs at the Teerthanker Mahaveer University Ground.

Spinner Jalaj S Saxena picked up three wickets at the cost of conceding 190 runs, the figures giving ample indication of how difficult was it for the bowlers.

UP had started the day on 260 for two.

Overnight batting on 110, Almas Shaukat got out after making 128, even as Saif batted on and in the company of Sarfaraz, who is barely 17, added 287 runs for the fourth wicket.

Saif found the fence 18 times and cleared it once, while Sarfaraz struck 15 boundaries and four sixes.