Ajaz Patel incredibly 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 history 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
New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel hailed one of the greatest days of his life after becoming the third bowler in Test history to claim all 10 wickets in an innings.
Patel achieved the feat in Mumbai, the city of his birth, taking 10 for 119 from 47.5 overs as India were dismissed for 325 in the second Test.
After following England’s Jim Laker (10 for 53 against Australia at Old Trafford in 1956) and India’s Anil Kumble (10 for 74 against Pakistan at Delhi in 1998-99) into the record books, he admitted: ‘These kind of things don’t really sink in until later. It is a special moment, I won’t lie about that.
Patel was mobbed by his team-mates after dazzling for New Zealand in their Test against India
‘It’s brilliant for me and for my family. To be able to come back home to Mumbai and the Wankhede Stadium and produce something like that is quite special.’
The 33-year-old Patel had taken only 29 Test wickets before the start of this game, but picked up four on the first day with his left-arm spin — including Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli for ducks — then added six more yesterday.
The historic moment came when India’s No 11 Mohammed Siraj slogged to mid-on, where Rachin Ravindra held on.
‘I saw the ball wobble when it was coming down, and I was a bit nervous for a moment,’ said Patel. ‘Knowing you’re about to achieve something special was quite unbelievable. I’m just ecstatic I did it in Mumbai.’
The history-matching moment came when Mohammed Siraj edged through to Rachin Ravindra
New Zealand’s batsmen, though, promptly folded to 62 all out — the lowest total in Test history against India, undercutting 79 by South Africa at Nagpur six years ago. India then reached stumps on 69 without loss in their second innings, an overall lead of 332 runs, leaving Patel to reflect on the most topsy-turvy of days.
‘Personally, it’s one of the greatest cricketing days of my life, and it will always will be,’ he said.
‘From a team perspective, we’ve put ourselves in a tough position.’
Patel had helped save the first Test at Kanpur, batting for half an hour at No 11 as New Zealand clung on for a draw. But, in this two-match series, his heroics in Mumbai are likely to be in vain.