India, Jan. 8 -- Sarfaraz Khan lit up the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Thursday with a record-breaking blitz for Mumbai, smashing the tournament's fastest-ever half-century even as his team fell short by a run against Punjab in Round 7.

The 27-year-old ripped through the landmark in just 15 balls, going past the previous Vijay Hazare Trophy record of 16 balls held by Baroda's Atit Sheth (set in the 2020-21 season). The standout moment of Sarfaraz's assault was a single over that swung the chase dramatically. He hammered Abhishek Sharma for 30 runs in one over, instantly dragging the game back in Mumbai's reach.

Sarfaraz eventually finished with a jaw-dropping 62 off 20 balls, laced with seven fours and five sixes, before Mayan Markande ended ...