Team India all-rounder Axar Patel is having a dream run as he picked up yet another five-wicket haul against New Zealand in the ongoing 1st test match of the two-match series. The talented cricketer has impressed one and all with his sensational bowling performances and has been receiving praises from all the corners.
On Saturday, as Axar picked yet another milestone, he became the first Indian player in over 100 years to pick up 5-wicket hauls in seven innings or less. With this achievement, the Gujarat-born bowler has joined an elite list.
The previous players to achieve this milestone were Charlie Turner in 1887-1888 and Tom Richardson in 1893-1895. However, the fastest cricketer who achieved this milestone was Australian cricketer Rodney Hogg, who achieved this feat in just six innings.
Talking about the game, Team India had a massive task on their hands after the Indian side failed to pick any wicket on the second day of the 1st Test match. India was having a tough day at work for the first 66 overs as the Kiwi opening pair Will Young and Tom Latham added 151-runs for the opening stance, with 129 of the runs coming by the end of the second day.
While Ashwin gave the much-needed breakthrough to the Indian side and picked three crucial wickets for the Indian side, it was Axar Patel, who turned out to be the hero with the ball.
Patel dismissed Tim Southree for five runs to complete his fifth fifer in 4 games for the Indian side. Earlier, Patel picked crucial wickets of Tom Latham, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, and Tom Blundell as he powered his way through the clueless middle-order of the Kiwis. Riding on the terrific bowling performances of Ashwin and Patel, the Indian side was able to restrict the Kiwis to 296 runs.
