In a record-breaking and historic Test match against India, Ajaz Patel carved his name into cricketing history as New Zealand achieved a monumental feat in Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium. The combination of Ajaz’s extraordinary bowling and New Zealand’s relentless team effort led to one of the most stunning results in Test cricket.
New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel achieved an incredible feat in an exciting cricket series. Becoming the first visiting team to completely demolish India in a series of three matches or longer, New Zealand achieved a historic 3–0 series win over India. By taking 25 wickets in this magnificent stadium, Ajaz surpassed the record of 22 wickets of England’s legendary cricketer Ian Botham.
Cricket Scores
- New Zealand: 235 and 174
- India: 263 and 121
- Winner: New Zealand won by 25 runs.
Pant’s dismissal turns tide for New Zealand
India’s chances of victory depended entirely on Rishabh Pant (64), whose heroic knock enabled the hosts to chase down the target in the second session with four wickets to spare and 55 runs to win. However, India’s hopes were soon dashed as Ajaz took a highly controversial decision that saw the left-hander given behind.
On-field umpire Richard Illingworth first declared Pant not out, but UltraEdge caught a faint whiff on DRS. The third umpire’s problem was that it was difficult to tell whether the bat hit the pad or a slight edge. Pant was surprised that Paul Reiffel agreed to overturn the on-field decision, which usually happens in such situations.
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It was a big blow for India, and the result was decided from that moment onwards, even though Washington Sundar and Ravichandran Ashwin were at the crease. The characteristics of the pitch and India’s lack of intent in batting forced Pant to bat steadily.
Ashwin’s attempted reverse sweep off Glenn Phillips prevented the Tamil Nadu pair from staying at the crease for long. The final match was decided when the New Zealander dismissed Akashdeep for zero. In line with New Zealand, Ajaz won the match after Sundar missed his slog sweep attempt and was clean bowled.
Zealand Won on a Tough Pitch
During New Zealand’s three series wins, this was probably the most difficult pitch. To be honest, batting wasn’t too difficult in the morning session on day one, and the visitors won an easy toss. However, things fell apart soon after that, as the game wrapped up in two and a half days.
14 wickets fell on day one, while 15 on day two. Before halftime, the last 11 wickets fell. Batting on such a challenging surface was a lottery, and batting last wasn’t easy either. Daryl Mitchell (82) and Will Young (71) provided the Black Caps with a solid first-inning total as their fifties carried the innings while others struggled to score runs.
Washington Sundar (4-81) and Ravindra Jadeja (5-65) made the most of the conditions after the hosts got off to a poor start on day one. At one stage, New Zealand were 159/3 and looked set for a target of 275, 300, or more, but they eventually crumbled for 235. Ashwin was wicketless in the first inning, and his outing was disappointing.
India’s Collapse Hands New Zealand Series Win
India had a great chance to knock New Zealand out of the match. Perhaps getting a lead of 60-70 or even 100 could have changed the game, even though the surface was deteriorating. Ajaz spun the web around the batsmen, but only Shubman Gill (90) and Rishabh Pant (60) successfully resisted the spin challenge for the home team.
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India were in a safe position at 180/4, but like their opponents, they too suffered a crucial collapse, even though Gill and Pant were playing well. India wouldn’t have even gotten the lead if Washington Sundar had not scored 38 off 36 balls.
Even though the 28-run gap was small, it ultimately didn’t have much of an impact on New Zealand’s confidence and energy. India bowled brilliantly in the second innings, and Jadeja took five more wickets in the match. Since New Zealand could only manage 174, which meant a target of 147 runs, Ashwin also found his rhythm by taking three wickets.
Especially on such a torrid change, it was one of those middle-order targets that often created havoc for the chasing team. India needed a strong start to set themselves up, but in the seventh over they were 29/5, and on this pitch, there was no turning back.
Pant’s second half-century of the game was what enabled India to bring the match so close, and the left-hander’s intent and style of play really gave the impression that he was batting on a different surface. However, the odds were stacked against the wicketkeeper-batsman as he had no partners and the pitch was chaotic.
In the end, his innings were cut short by a controversial dismissal as New Zealand created history in what will go down as the greatest cricketing month in their history.
Impact of Patel’s Achievement on New Zealand Cricket
In the three-match Test series, Ajaz Patel was able to take 15 wickets at an average of 23.80. This top cricketer, who took 11 wickets in the Mumbai Test, got the title of “Player of the Match.” Since making his Test debut in 2018, the 36-year-old New Zealand cricketer has featured in 21 Test matches and picked up 85 wickets.
Ajaz’s remarkable spell has already begun inspiring young cricketers in New Zealand, especially spinners who often face challenges in a country dominated by pace bowlers. His performance underscores the growing potential of New Zealand’s spin department and highlights the importance of patience and perseverance in cricket.
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The Kiwi cricket community has celebrated Patel’s achievement as a milestone moment, drawing attention to the possibilities for spinners on the international stage. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced that Patel’s performance will be commemorated as an inspiring moment in their cricketing history.
In the coming years, it may serve as a defining moment for budding spinners in the country, showcasing what hard work and self-belief can achieve, even against tough competition and challenging conditions.