New Zealand spinner Ejaz Patel etched his name in history when he became the third bowler to take all ten wickets in an innings of a Test match. Patel achieved the historic feat on the second day of the ongoing second Test against India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday. Patel joins an elite list featuring the greats Anil Kumble and Jim Laker.
It was a magical spell from Patel, who took four wickets on the first day of the Mumbai Test followed by the remaining six during India’s first innings on the second day. Kumble was the last bowler to take all ten wickets in a match. A Test match innings when he achieved the feat in the Delhi Test against Pakistan in 1999.
History maker Patel was lauded by the cricket fraternity on social media as players, fans and experts lauded his brilliant effort against India. India head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Virat Kohli also came up with a special gesture as they went to the New Zealand dug-out to congratulate Patel after taking ten wickets.
The gesture of the Indian captain and head coach won hearts on social media as many appreciated him. A video of Kohli and Dravid going to New Zealand’s dug-out to congratulate Patel went viral on social media.
— Addicric (@addicric) December 4, 2021
After a brilliant spell from Ijaz, New Zealand was expected to tighten their grip on the game, but their batting line-up fell like a pack of cards in their first innings. R Ashwin and Mohammad Siraj picked up seven wickets in the Kiwi batting order to bundle out the visitors for 62 runs to give India a massive 263-run lead.
New Zealand scored the lowest score ever by any team in a Test match against India and to stand a chance in a Test match would have to be overcome with impossibility as India already took a lead of over 400 runs and headed for a big victory.