Mumbai-born New Zealand left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel created Test cricket history by taking all 10 Indian first innings wickets on Saturday.
However, his 10-wicket haul would be the first one in a losing cause as New Zealand were all out for just 62 in their first innings in reply to India’s 325 on day two of the second Test here on Friday.
Patel spun a web, taking all 10 wickets bowling from the famous ‘Tata End’ as he used the rough created to extract turn and bounce.
The morning belonged to Ajaz, who got two quick wickets in the morning before Agarwal and Axar added 67 runs for the seventh wicket to take the score towards 300-run mark.
The best delivery of the six wickets that he got on the day, was one that got Ravichandran Ashwin out as he drew the batter forward and turned enough to clip the bails.
Ashwin hilariously appealed for DRS without realising that he has been bowled as he had thought that the bowler had appealed for caught behind.
The review was wasted as he had already asked for it and once he realised that he was beaten lock, stock and barrel, he didn’t wait for the final verdict.
No wonder when Patel got Siraj as his 10th and final victim, Ashwin was seen giving him a standing ovation from the Indian dressing room as he led his team with the coveted ball in his hand.
With India scoring 325 in their first innings riding on Mayank Agarwal’s 150 and a maiden half-century from Axar Patel (52), Siraj (4-0-19-3) rocked the Black Caps with a fiery and furious spell, getting three quick wickets.
Axar Patel (1/8), Ravichandran Ashwin (1/3) and Jayant Yadav (1/0) then kept the visitors on tenterhooks on a pitch that has both turn and bounce, which Ajaz used to a great effect during his historic figures of 47.5-12-119-10.
No marks for guessing that it is the best ever bowling figures in an innings by an overseas bowler as he equalled England off-spinner Jim Laker (10/53 vs Australia, 1956) and Anil Kumble (10/74 vs Pakistan, 1999).