On Saturday (December 4), an Indian-born New Zealand left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel became only the third bowler in history to capture ten wickets in a single innings. Indian batting orders were shattered by his incredible bowling, and they were bowled out for 325 runs in their first innings. New Zealand were bowled out for 62 runs in response, their lowest-ever total against India in Tests. India have complete control of the contest after bowling New Zealand out for a low total. Let's have a look at the current match scenario of the IND vs NZ 2nd Test 2021.
Match Scenario: IND vs NZ 2nd Test 2021
India's decision to bat first on a slow-turning wicket at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium paid off well for the hosts despite all the attention focused on Kiwi spinner Ajaz Patel. Because getting over 300 runs at the Wankhede is a good performance, and India scored 325 runs in their first innings.
The match's first day finished with a controversial Ibw wicket of Indian captain Virat Kohli. As per the TV reply, the ball touched the bat before hitting Virat Kohli's front pad. However, the umpire ruled it in favor of the fielding side, and Virat returned to the pavilion with a duck. He has failed to score a century in any format since the pink-ball Test against Bangladesh in 2019. India scored 221 for the loss of four wickets on day one.
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India came into bat on day 2 with the aim of scoring more than 300 runs, which they achieved. On the other hand, Ajaz Patel made the headlines by taking all of India's wickets. Ajaz's final bowling stats was 47.5-12-119-10. Overall, he had five catch-out wickets, three Ibws, and two were bowled outs.
In 1988, Ajaz Patel was born in Mumbai, India. He moved to New Zealand with his family in 1996. The promising left-arm spinner had to wait a long time to make his full international debut for New Zealand. In 2018, he made his international debut for the Blackcaps against Pakistan, becoming the fifth Indian-origin player to play for the Kiwis.
Ajaz is primarily regarded as a key asset for New Zealand in the Test format, having taken 29 wickets in ten games before this Test. In sub-continent conditions, he is a very effective bowler.
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In the first innings, the New Zealand campaign was anticipated to gain a big lead. However, an impressive Indian bowling attack knocked New Zealand out for only 62 runs. This was the lowest total ever in an India-New Zealand Test match.
Off-spinner Ravi Ashwin was outstanding with the ball, taking four wickets for only eight runs. Pacer Mohammad Siraj claimed three wickets, while Axar Patel took two. The only two New Zealand batsmen to reach double digits in the innings were Tom Latham and Kyle Jamieson.
India scored 69 runs on day two without losing a wicket. They now have a 332-run lead. India are clearly the favorite to win the match unless New Zealand perform brilliantly in their second innings.
Read India in control vs NZ despite Ajaz Patel's historic feat
Test bowlers with the most wickets in an innings
Only Jim Laker of England and Anil Kumble of India had taken ten wickets in an innings before Ajaz Patel. Jim Laker became the first cricketer to take ten wickets in an innings in 1956 at Old Trafford, Manchester. Laker took 9 wickets in the first innings and 10 wickets in the second innings in the match. In both innings, his bowling stats were 9/37 and 10/53. England had taken a 2-1 lead in the Ashes series after winning by an innings and 170 runs.
The cricket world had to wait more than four decades to see another bowler take ten wickets in one innings. India's Anil Kumble, rose to the occasion against arch-rivals Pakistan in Delhi. Leg-spinner Kumble's superb bowling helped India knock Pakistan out for 207 runs in the second innings. India won by 212 runs and leveled the series at 1-1. Kumble's bowling figure was 10/74 in 26.3 overs in the second innings.
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Top five best bowling figures in an innings (Test)
|
Player |
BBI |
Opposition |
Ground |
|
Jim Laker |
10/53 |
Australia |
Manchester |
|
Anil Kumble |
10/74 |
Pakistan |
Delhi |
|
Axar Patel |
10/119 |
India |
Mumbai |
|
George Lohmann |
9/28 |
South Africa |
Johannesburg |
|
Jim Laker |
9/37 |
Australia |
Manchester |
Bottom Line
Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel will remember this match forever. However, given the present state of the game, New Zealand will most likely lose the match. India's campaign is under less pressure after taking a 250-plus run lead in the first innings. It will be a humiliating circumstance for Ajaz Patel if his team loses this match. Therefore, New Zealand will need to bat very well in the second innings of the IND vs NZ 2nd Test 2021 in order for a possible record run-chase.
Read Ajaz Patel became 3rd cricketer to take 10-wicket in a Test innings