Twelve-year-old smashes 439 in India

AAP - November 5, 2009, 10:35 pm

A 12-year-old has scored 439 runs in a school cricket tournament in Mumbai that was used as a launch pad for the career of current Indian superstar Sachin Tendulkar, local media reported on Thursday.

Sarfaraz Khan faced 421 balls and hit 12 sixes and 56 boundaries for his Springfield Rizvi school against a hapless Indian Education Society in a three-day Harris Shield match on Wednesday, the Times of India reported.

It was in this tournament in 1988 when Tendulkar, then a prodigal 15-year-old, made 329 during a 664-run partnership with childhood friend Vinod Kambli, who also went on to play international cricket.

Tendulkar made his Test debut a year later and became the most successful batsman in history with a world record 12,773 runs and 42 hundreds in Tests and 16,993 runs and 44 centuries in one-dayers.

As television cameras and reporters surrounded the young Khan after his mammoth knock, he joked that it was easier scoring 400 than posing for the media.

"I swear I will never hit another 400 in my life," the newspaper quoted Khan as saying. "Slogging on the field is way easier than posing."

The only time Khan took his eye off the ball was when his coach Raju Pathak signalled from the pavilion on the next target he needed to achieve, the paper said.

"I am a complete target person," said a confident Khan. "You tell me you want this and I'll give it to you.

"Once I touched my triple century, word came in about Sachin Tendulkar's mark of 358. That conquered, I managed 400. I was thrilled to bits."

Khan said the only time he had seen Tendulkar from up close was during the Indian Premier League last year when the master was giving batting tips to Mohammad Ashraful, a former captain of Bangladesh.

"I heard him tell Ashraful to watch the ball till the last moment before it left the bowler's hand, so that he gets more time to adjust his shot," said Khan.

"I have followed that advice and it has got me a lot of runs."

Think this kid will play internationals? Leave a comment below.

Send this Story

Show:

Newest First

Oldest First

1 - 10 of 44

First Page | < Previous | Next > | Last Page

44 Comments

Post your comment

Peter 02:40pm Friday 06th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
Danny you are living in the past mate! No-one gives a crap about your school efforts! Move on mate. Maybe you should try and live vicariously through your children. Having said that your collection of school yearbooks, photos and the fact that you have kept your bedroom the same since you were 13 ha ...
Danny S 02:28pm Friday 06th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
I made 345 wen i was playing cricket at school level! no one said anything to me!! y is he gettign all the hype n stuff. i should get in first!! Wat about me? Mr. Rudd, can we get him and his family to Australia? Do we have to test his skills? Boat or plane?
kathy.cuttriss 02:27pm Friday 06th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
GO 4 IT MATE...CHAK DE INDIA.... kat from aus
kathy.cuttriss 02:24pm Friday 06th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
IM KATHY FROM AUSTRALIA congratulations mate keep on rising u will get there. and Dave everyone thinks he has done a good job but whats better that he also thinks he has done a terrific job. GO FOR IT MATE.. CHAK DE INDIA!
Sam 02:20pm Friday 06th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
Well done Buddy for making runs, Thats massive score . I dont think all the bowlers can be crap to let someone make that many runs. Not to forget the match was used as " launch pad for the career of current Indian superstar Sachin Tendulkar." We must understand that the players wer ...
Ash 02:19pm Friday 06th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
Well done mate! It's high time that he should move to Australia as Australians really recognizes the talent unlike in India he will be lost based on religion, caste or region! Rightnow in Indian team all the players from North India! so much biased and hightly corrupted BCCI!
Lynette 02:17pm Friday 06th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
Why do people have to knock this boys marvelous run chase, he did it all alone and should recieve praise for his mighty effort, not bagged, who cares how many times he was dropped, he kept his eye on the ball for a long time, I would love to see our boys beat this one, go for it young man, and I sur ...
Rafi A 02:11pm Friday 06th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
good job kid, what a wonderfull performance was that, i really see sachin tendulkar in him, he can be an asset to the indian people and sports, i wish him all the best for his future career.
Rafi A 02:11pm Friday 06th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
good job kid, what a wonderfull performance was that, i really see sachin tendulkar in him, he can be an asset to the indian people and sports, i wish him all the best for his future career.
Gilbert 01:56pm Friday 06th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
Keep reading the comments and look out for the yellow eyed and the bigots. Give this kid his dues, will you.