Ajaz Patel, spinner in New Zealand, won all 10 matches against India
Mumbai-born left-winger Ajaz, whose parents emigrated to New Zealand in 1996, added six doubles to the four players he played against on Friday’s first day to finish with a 10- 119.
Ajaz, who started his career as a fast pitcher, made quick bounces and bounces from the pitch and carried a New Zealand bowling ball over his shoulder to limit his first innings total. The home team is 325.
After beating Wriddhiman Saha and Ravichandran Ashwin in his first match on Saturday, the stocky spinner returned from the lunch break to take the remaining four to end India’s turn.
When Rachin Ravindra hugged a skier from India’s No. 11 smasher Mohammed Siraj to confirm the final bat’s fall, Ajaz knelt down with a clenched fist before being hugged by his teammates.
He also received a standing ovation from the Indian team in the dressing room and sparse crowd in the pitch overlooking the Arabian Sea.
While Ajaz dominated when holding the ball, it was Mayank Agarwal who scored most of the runs for the home team with a slick ball.
Agarwal reached 150 with a shot that cut Ajaz’s face but was caught on the next serve. All-rounder Axar Patel was able to assist with a 52, his first test in half a century.