A historic day of Test cricket between India and New Zealand ended with Ajaz Patel making history by becoming only the third player in international cricket history to pick a 10-fer.
Ajaz Patel has now joined Jim Laker of England and Anil Kumble of India as the third bowler in Test history to take ten wickets in an innings.
How it went down
Ajaz Patel took four wickets on Day 1 of the India vs. New Zealand 2nd Test on Friday, dismissing Shubman Gill, Team India captain Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Shreyas Iyer. After trapping Wriddhiman Saha LBW in the second over of the day, the left-arm spinner completed his 5-wicket haul on Saturday. Ajaz Patel cleaned up Ravichandran Ashwin with a peach of a delivery in the next ball.
Mayank and Axar to the rescue but Ajaz prevailed
Mayank Agarwal and Axar Patel formed a solid partnership, but it was shattered when Ajaz Patel had Agarwal caught by Tom Blundell behind the stumps. Mayank scored crucial 150 runs which comprised of 4 sixes and 17 fours. Axar Patel went on to complete his maiden half-century in Test cricket after Agarwal’s dismissal. His stay, however, came to an end when Ajaz Patel had him LBW. The umpire denied the initial appeal, but New Zealand decided to use DRS to successfully review it.
The left-arm spinner took his ninth wicket when he had Jayant Yadav caught by Rachin Ravindra and his historic tenth when he dismissed Mohammed Siraj.
India dismissed New Zealand for just 62 runs
After Ajaz gobbled up 10 for 119 to restrict India to 325, New Zealand wrapped for 62, the lowest total in an Indian Test match. With the new ball, Siraj set fire to the visitors top-order, reducing them to 17/3. New Zealand was never the same after that. The remaining wickets were taken by Indian spinners. NZ’s innings lasted only 169 balls as they collapsed for an embarrassing 62, with only two batters reaching double figures.
What’s next
Ajaz Patel had been New Zealand’s breakthrough performer in this series, saving his team from a 1-0 loss in the two-match Test series in Kanpur, and now he is single-handedly running through the Indian batting line-up, becoming only the third person in history to do so.
Despite Ajaz’s extraordinary achievement, New Zealand is in a tough position. They are trailing India by 332 runs and have yet to take a wicket in the second inning. Both Mayank and Pujara look settled as openers, and India is in the driver’s seat as this Test progresses at a rapid pace.