MUMBAI — New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel on Saturday etched his name in the history books at the Wankhede Stadium after becoming only the third cricketer to claim 10 wickets in a single innings of a Test match after Jim Laker and Anil Kumble.
Ajaz dismissed Mohammed Siraj to complete a perfect 10-wicket haul on Day 2 o the Test against India to emulate Jim Laker and Anil Kumble.
Laker had registered astonishing figures of 10 for 53 in 1956 against Australia at Old Trafford in Manchester while Anil Kumble had taken just 26.3 overs to take 10 wickets for 74 runs against Pakistan in New Delhi.
Playing in India for the first time, the 33-year old, who had moved to New Zealand at the age of eight, turned it around for the visitors after a strong start by the Indian openers on Day 1.
Ajaz picked up the wickets of Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer on Day 1 of the Mumbai Test before returning to complete his 10-wicket-haul by sending back Wridhhiman Saha, R Ashwin, Mayank Agarwal, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav and Mohammed Siraj on Saturday.
Apart from Mayank Agarwal, the Indian batting unit seldom looked like they could deal with the threat of Ajaz Patel.
The Mumbai pitch, which took some time to dry after two days of unseasonal rain in the western port city, assisted the spinners and Patel capitalized. Not only did Ajaz vary his pace, but he also used the crease well. — (Agencies)