The New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel has become only the third bowler to pick up all 10 wickets in an innings in international cricket, achieving the feat against India in the second Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The 33-year-old joined England off-spinner Jim Laker (1956 against Australia) and India leg-spinner Anil Kumble (1999 against Pakistan) in picking up all wickets in an innings. Spin-bowling great Kumble, who took 619 Test wickets for India during his career, tweeted: “Welcome to the club Ajaz Patel #Perfect 10. Well bowled! A special effort to achieve it on day one and two of a test match.”
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Welcome to the club #AjazPatel #Perfect10 Well bowled! A special effort to achieve it on Day1 & 2 of a test match. #INDvzNZ
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) December 4, 2021
Where did Aijaz Patel hail from?
Mumbai-born left-armer Patel, whose parents emigrated to New Zealand in 1996, added six wickets to the four he took on Friday’s first day to finish with figures of 10 for 119. Patel, who started his career as a fast bowler, extracted sharp turn and bounce from the pitch and carried the New Zealand bowling on his shoulders to restrict the hosts’ first innings total to 325.
After picking up the wickets of Wriddhiman Saha and Ravichandran Ashwin in his first over on Saturday, he returned after the lunch interval to take the remaining four to wrap up India’s innings. As Rachin Ravindra pouched a skied effort from India’s No 11 batter Mohammed Siraj to confirm the fall of the final wicket, Patel went down on one knee with a clenched fist before being hugged by his teammates. He also received a standing ovation from the Indian team in the dressing room and the sparse crowd at the ground overlooking the Arabian Sea.
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While Patel dominated the proceedings with the ball, it was Mayank Agarwal who scored the bulk of the runs for the hosts on the tricky surface. Agarwal reached 150 with a cut shot off Ajaz but was caught behind on the next delivery. All-rounder Axar Patel provided able support with 52, his maiden Test half-century.
Reuters with additional input by GVS