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PIX: India in command despite Ajaz's 'Perfect 10'

Last updated on: December 04, 2021 18:05 IST

Images from Day 2 of the second and final Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.

IMAGE: Mohammed Siraj took three quick wickets to leave New Zealand reeling, on Day 2 of the second and final Test in Mumbai on Saturday. Photograph: BCCI

New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel claimed the rare honour of bagging all 10 wickets in an innings before India demonstrated their own bowling might to take control on Day 2 of the second and final Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.

 

The Mumbai-born Ajaz became only the third player in international cricket to take all wickets in an innings after England off-spinner Jim Laker and India leg-spinner Anil Kumble, but the tourists could not stop India from getting to 325.

In reply, New Zealand could bat only a little over two hours before being bundled out for 62 to concede a first-innings lead of 263.

India decided against enforcing the follow-on and then tightened the screws by reaching 69 for no loss in their second innings, stretching their overall lead to 332 runs at the close of the second day's play.

IMAGE: Henry Nicholls is bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin. Photograph: BCCI

Cheteshwar Pujara opened the batting in place of Shubman Gill, who suffered a blow to his right elbow while fielding at close-in, and was unbeaten on 29 with Mayank Agarwal 38 not out.

On a pitch offering plenty of assistance to the spin bowlers, India's Mohammed Siraj, who was left out of the first Test in Kanpur, bowled with aggression and pace with the new ball to rattle the touring side.

The fast bowler sent back New Zealand's stand-in captain Tom Latham, Will Young and the experienced Ross Taylor to reduce them to 17/3 in his opening spell.

After Siraj's initial blast, the top-ranked test side's batters surrendered meekly to India's spinners.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin picked up four wickets for eight runs as the New Zealand innings folded in just 28.1 overs.

IMAGE: Ajaz Patel celebrates after dismissing Mohammed Siraj as he became only the third bowler to pick up all 10 wickets in an innings. Photograph: BCCI

Earlier, left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel became only the third bowler to take all 10 wickets in an innings as India folded for 325 during the second session.

Resuming the second day on 221/4, India scored 64 runs in the morning session with the loss of two wickets. They added another 40 runs for four wickets after lunch to end their first innings at 325.

India lost Wridhiman Saha (27) and Ravichandran Ashwin off successive balls early in the morning session before Mayank Agarwal (150) and Axar Patel (52) took the score past 300-run mark.

IMAGE: Mayank Agarwal top-scored for India with 150. Photograph: BCCI

In his first over of the day the 33-year-old Patel, whose family immigrated to New Zealand in 1996, dismissed Wriddhiman Saha leg before wicket for 27 to complete his third five-wicket haul in an innings in Tests.

Ravichandran Ashwin was out bowled on the next delivery to hand the left-arm spinner his best bowling figures in the format as India were reduced to 224/6.

Axar denied Ajaz the hat-trick and then put on 67 runs for the seventh wicket with Agarwal to take India past the 300-run mark.

IMAGE: Axar Patel played a good hand with the bat, scoring a half-century. Photograph: BCCI

India didn't score at a very quick rate in the morning session as they added 64 runs in 28 overs.

Save Patel, who used the turn and bounce to good effect, keeping the batters quiet for the better part of the session, the other New Zealand bowlers didn't look very penetrative despite being economical.

Patel continued his wicket ways after the lunch intervals. He got the big wicket of Agarwal, who was caught behind after a splendid innings of 150, hitting 17 fours and four sixes in his 311-ball knock.

IMAGE: Ravichandran Ashwin is bowled by Ajaz Patel. Photograph: BCCI

Axar also played a good hand with the bat, hitting 52 before he was trapped leg before wicket by Patel.

His dismissal saw Patel run through the lower order dismissing Jayant Yadav and Mohammed Siraj in a single over. He picked up up three wickets in the space of six deliveries, to complete an incredible haul of 10 wickets in an innings.

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