Ajaz Patel takes all TEN wickets in an innings for New Zealand in their series-deciding Test against India, with the spinner becoming just the third bowler in international cricket to achieve the jaw-dropping feat
- Ajaz Patel’s 10 wickets have matched the feats of Jim Laker and Anil Kumble
- Patel took four on day one and added another six to his tally across day two
- At 10-119, the left-armer helped New Zealand dismiss India for 325 in Mumbai
- The history-matching moment came when Mohammed Siraj edged a slog-sweep
Ajaz Patel has become just the third bowler in cricket history to take all 10 wickets to fall in a test innings after taking 10-119 for New Zealand against India in Mumbai, the city where he was born.
Jim Laker, for England against Australia in 1956, and Anil Kumble, for India against Pakistan in 1999, were the only bowlers to have previously taken all 10 wickets in a test innings.
The 33-year-old Patel took four wickets on day one and added another six on day two – two in his first over of the day and another four after lunch, as India was dismissed for 325 in the series-deciding test at Wankhede Stadium.
Ajaz Patel is now the third bowler in cricket history to take all 10 wickets to fall in a test innings
The first test ended in a draw.
Left-armer Patel, whose parents emigrated to New Zealand in 1996, added a six-wicket haul to the four he took yesterday to reach his incredible milestone.
The history-matching moment arrived when tailender Mohammed Siraj edged a slog-sweep through to Rachin Ravindra from another of Patel’s searing deliveries.
He also made Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja walk for ducks, and got out Mayank Agarwal after his impressive 150, as well as Axar Patel for 52.
Patel was mobbed by his team-mates after dazzling for New Zealand in their Test against India
Ravindra’s catch, which held on to Siraj’s skier, saw a jubilant Patel let out a roar of ecstasy, and he was also applauded by the crowd and India’s dressing room.
Patel was able to join the incredibly exclusive club by rattling through India’s order in the first session, taking wickets with successive balls to move towards a hat-trick.
However, Agarwal – the overnight batsman – steadied the ship by scoring 150 and helped his team edge closer to a competitive overall total.
But it was Patel who unsurprisingly struck again to end the promising 67-run stand between Agarwal and Patel, and he soon dismissed the latter leg-before.
The history-matching moment came when Mohammed Siraj edged through to Rachin Ravindra
Kumble, one of two other men to have recorded the same feat, tweeted a message of congratulations for Patel after his 10th wicket fell.
‘Welcome to the club #AjazPatel #Perfect10,’ he posted on Twitter. ‘Well bowled! A special effort to achieve it on Day1 & 2 of a test match. #INDvzNZ.’
Patel capped off a superb week with his second Test heroics, having also been part of a bullish rearguard effort which helped New Zealand take a draw in the first tie.
The current match in Mumbai, his place of birth, is the last of a two-match series and a repeat of the thrilling World Test Championship final in June.