Jaffer, a chip off the old block

Wasim's 14-year old nephew continues tradition, anchors Mumbai.

Mumbai's Arman Jaffer looked pleased as he made his walk back to the pavilion. When the umpires called stumps, Jaffer was unbeaten on 128 against Jharkhand in the quarterfinals of the Vijay Merchant trophy at the Ferozeshah Kotla. In the context of the match, Jaffer had anchored Mumbai's first innings, taking them from 52/2 to 263/5, but in the context of his U-16 career, this was the first time he had scored more than a solitary century in a season. Before this match, Jaffer had scored an unbeaten 143 against Baroda along with three fifties.

This has been Mumbai's sixth game this season and Jaffer's run count has already crossed the 550-run mark. His knock on Monday took his average to 78.85 in seven innings. In the last edition of the Vijay Merchant Trophy, Wasim Jaffer's nephew had piled up 502 runs with an average of 62.75 including a hundred and three fifties.

"Since last edition, I was not able to convert my fifties into second hundred. Now that I have scored my second hundred, my job isn't finished yet and I need to go on and score big now," said Arman Jaffer who came in to bat at No. 4.

Jaffer has been kept constantly busy with the task of bailing Mumbai out this season. In his previous innings too he had walked out when Mumbai was in trouble. Rather than getting affected by the pressure, Jaffer believes in taking his own time to settle and get acquainted with the situation. On Monday, Jaffer once gain had to deal with a similar situation and without showing any nerves, initiated his saving act. "When I went to bat, I had a simple plan in mind that no matter what, I have to bat for the entire day. For the initial few minutes, scoring runs was not my priority. I knew if I settle well on this pitch, runs will start flowing automatically. Although the wicket had signs of moisture as couple of balls deviated off the track but otherwise the track behaved very true," 14-year-old Jaffer added.

... contd.

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