AJAZ PATEL CREATES HISTORY

3rd Bowler To Take 10 Wickets In an Innings 

Mumbai-born New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel 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. Patel walked off to a standing ovation at the Wankhade Stadium as he became the first New Zealand bowler to take all 10 wickets in test innings.

                       Ajaz bowled excellently throughout the innings and outfoxed all the Indian batters with this combination of dip, drift and flight. On the first day, he had accounted for four Indian batters, with his scalps of Cheteshwar Pujara, Shubham Gill and Virat Kohli keeping New Zealand in the hunt after India's solid start. He also flummoxed Shreyas Iyer later in the day. On day two, he produced a magnificent arm-bell to get the better of Wriddhiman Saha. He also conjured a magical delivery to send Ravichandran Ashwin packing. Thereafter, he trapped Axar Patel lbw, got Jayant Yadav to pick out long off before attempting Siraj into a  mistimed slog.

                       Ajaz ended with figures of 10 wickets for 119 runs in 47.5 overs. The fall of the 10th wicket will forever Be etched in the minds of the New Zealand players with Mohammed Siraj skying the ball only to be caught at mid-on. The Mumbai pitch, which took some time to dry after 2 days of unseasonal rain in the western port city, assisted the spinners and Patel capitalised. Not only did Ajaz vary his space, but he also used the crease well.

                       Ajaz also became the only bowler to snap up but 10 wicket-haul in the first innings of a test and the first to do away from home. Laker had bagged 10 wickets in the third innings of the game at old Trafford against England. Kumble, meanwhile, did so against Pakistan at Delhi in the fourth innings. A jubilant Patel let out of a roar followed by applause not only from the crowd but also the Indian dressing room. Left arm spinner is realising every bit of his dream home coming.