Day 2: India fight back after Ajaz Patel creates history

Ajaz Patel picked up a magnificent 10 wicket haul in a single innings.

Sadly, the New Zealand batters spoiled his performance as the whole team was dismissed for just 62 runs giving a lead of 263 runs to the Indian team.

India    1st innings   325 all-out

Agarwal 150 (311)            A. Patel 10-119                                                                                                               Axar        52  (128)

New Zealand  1st innings   62 all-out

Jamieson 17 (36)       Ashwin 4-8                                                                                                                        Latham    10 (14)       Siraj      3-19

India       2nd innings     69-0

Agarwal  38*(75)                                                                                                                                                     Pujara     29*(51)

India started their innings from 221-4 but Ajaz Patel struck early on picking up the back-to-back wickets of Saha and Ashwin.

He was on a hat-trick at that stage.

Saha was dismissed after adding just two runs in his previous night score of 25.

Axar Patel and Mayank Agarwal built up another important partnership for team India.

Agarwal became the 7th scalp of Ajaz Patel as he got out after just completing his 150.

Axar Patel scored a crucial half-century but India was bowled out on 325 runs by only one bowler, Ajaz Patel who picked up all the 10 wickets.

The New Zealand batting lineup failed badly against the brilliant bowling attack of team India as they were done and dusted on just 62 runs.

The Indian bowlers destroyed the Kiwi batting lineup in just less than 29 overs.

India didn’t force the follow-on and they decided to bat again. 

Due to the finger injury to Gill, Pujara came to open the innings with Agarwal and both of them played superbly and put 69 runs on the board without losing their wickets.

India has a lead of 332 runs with still 10 wickets in hand. 

Ajaz Patel’s Historic performance

Ajaz Patel made history for New Zealand today as he became only 3rd bowler in the history of Test cricket to pick up a 10 wicket haul in a single innings of a Test match.

He joined the illustrious company of Jim Laker and Anil Kumble.

Patel was outstanding with the ball and broke many records with his unbelievable bowling today.

Here are some of the records broken by him.

Best bowling figures in an innings by a visiting spinner in India:

10-119 Ajaz Patel 2021*

8-50 Nathan Lyon 2017

8-215 Jason Krejza 2008

Best bowling figures in a single Test innings against India:

10-119 Ajaz Patel, Mumbai 2021*

9-95 Jack Noreiga, Port of Spain 1971

Best Bowling figures by a New Zealand bowler:

10-119 Ajaz Patel v India 2021*

9-52 Richard Hadlee v Australia 1985

Outstanding bowling performance from India

The Indian bowlers just outclassed the New Zealand batting lineup.

New Zealand had the upper hand due to Ajaz Patel’s bowling spell but the great bowling performance from the Indian bowlers put India in a match-winning situation.

Siraj made a good come back picking up 3 wickets in the start.

Ashwin also bowled beautifully and grabbed 4 wickets for 8 runs.

New Zealand was all out for just 62 runs and it was the lowest team total against India in Tests. 

Lowest totals against India in Test cricket 
62 New Zealand, Mumbai 2021*
79 South Africa, Nagpur 2015
81 England, Ahmedabad 2021
82 Sri Lanka, Chandigarh 1990

Lowest totals for New Zealand v India in Tests
62 at Mumbai 2021*
94 at Hamilton 2002
100 at Wellington 1981
101 at Auckland 1968