Most of the Indian supporters back home may have switched off their television by the time Axar Patel came in to bat during India’s chase of 312 against West Indies in the second ODI on Sunday. But, the ones who didn’t were treated to a scintillating batting display from the Gujarat cricketer.
Patel, who had taken 1/40 in 9 overs with the ball earlier, was magnificent with the bat – smashing 64* unbeaten runs in 35 balls to take India home with only 2 balls to spare and 2 wickets in hand.
Axar Patel’s breaks MS Dhoni’s record in his whirlwind knock
In his entertaining, jailbreak, match-winning knock, Axar walloped 3 fours and 5 sixes – the last one sealed the game when 6 runs were needed off the last three balls. Now, even when he had hit his fourth six, in the 46th over, Axar had created a new record for India – and that too by breaking MS Dhoni’s long-standing 17-year-old record!
With these 5 sixes now, Axar has hit the most number of sixes by an Indian while batting at number 7 or lower in a successful ODI run chase. The previous highest was 3 sixes – shared by MS Dhoni (vs Zimbabwe, 2005) and Yusuf Pathan (twice – vs South Africa, 2011 and vs Ireland, 2011).
The winning six by Axar Parel when India need 6 from 3 balls, a fantastic finish. pic.twitter.com/miSwDLeQVO
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 25, 2022
Axar walked in to bat when India were reduced to 205 for 5, at the dismissal of Sanju Samson in the 39th over with Deepak Hooda at the other end. With the run rate rising, the left-hander opened his arms right away, clattering three maximums in consecutive overs – two to Akeal Hosein and one to Romario Shepherd, before taking down Alzarri Joseph with another biggie in a 16-run 46th over.
Even as Hooda and Thakur got out, Axar kept going – he then tonked Shepherd for a couple of more fours and got good support from Avesh Khan who also hit two fours before getting out on the last ball of the 49th over.
Axar completed the chase in a dramatic fashion by walloping Mayers for a six downtown as frenzied scenes ensued in the Indian camp.
It is not to forget that Axar is playing his first ODI series after 2017, and got the chance in the eleven perhaps only because Ravindra Jadeja is injured,
Baggin the Player of the Match award, Axar Patel said, “I think this is a special one. It came at a crucial time and also helped the team to win the series. We have done the same in the IPL. We just needed to remain calm and keep the intensity up. I was playing an ODI after close to 5 years. I would want to continue performing like this for my team.”
India have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, and the third ODI, a dead rubber, will be played on Wednesday.
