Axar Patel's 5/62 in Kanpur: Breaking Through New Zealand

Axar Patel's 5/62 in Kanpur was the spell that broke New Zealand's first innings on the third day at Green Park. In his fourth Test he took his fifth five-wicket haul: 34 overs, 6 maidens, 62 runs, economy 1.82. The match was still drawn.

Key figures

Match overview

India had won the toss and batted. They made 345, with Shreyas Iyer scoring 105 on Test debut and Tim Southee taking 5 for 69. New Zealand closed day two on 129 for 0. Tom Latham and Will Young were still together.

The opening stand reached 151 before Ravichandran Ashwin had Young caught by substitute wicketkeeper KS Bharat for 89. Wriddhiman Saha was the nominated keeper. Bharat took the gloves from the start of day three. Lunch was 197 for 2, not 197 for 1. Kane Williamson had already gone for 18, lbw to Umesh Yadav. Latham was 82 not out, and the new ball was available.

Axar Patel's 5/62 in Kanpur

Green Park's black soil was slow, and the ball was keeping low once the surface had been used. Axar bowls left-arm orthodox from a natural angle into the right-hander. On this day the wickets came from that angle, from turn, and from balls that did not get up. The five fell in this order.

Taylor and Nicholls, before the hundred

At 94.3 a length ball around off turned a little. Ross Taylor, on 11 off 28, played inside the line on the front foot and edged to Bharat. New Zealand were 214 for 3. Two balls later, at 96.5, Henry Nicholls tried a slog sweep at a fuller ball, missed, and was hit on the pad. He reviewed. It had pitched outside off, the impact was umpire's call, and it was hitting the stumps. He was lbw for 2 off 9. New Zealand were 218 for 4.

The stumping, then two bowled

Latham came down the pitch at 102.1 to a ball spinning back into him. It took the inside edge onto the ground. Bharat collected and removed the bails with Latham about a foot and a half out of his ground. He was stumped for 95 off 282, with 10 fours, and did not wait for the television umpire. New Zealand were 227 for 5. The hundred had gone, and so had the partnership that had held the innings.

Tom Blundell lasted 94 balls for 13. At 123.4 a length ball on off stump kept low, went under a back-foot defence, and hit the stumps. He was bowled. At 127.4 Axar came wide of the crease to Tim Southee. The ball angled in and then straightened. Southee, on 5 off 13, played for the angle on the back foot, missed, and was bowled. That was the five-for. New Zealand were 270 for 8.

What the five-for meant

This was Axar's fifth five-wicket haul, and only his fourth Test. Sportstar's report that evening placed him joint second for five-wicket hauls in a bowler's first four Tests, alongside Tom Richardson of England and Rodney Hogg of Australia. Charlie Turner of Australia stands above that group, with six five-wicket hauls in his first four Tests. The Kanpur haul did not equal Turner's six.

Ashwin took 3 for 82 in 42.3 overs, including Young and the last two wickets. Jadeja bowled Rachin Ravindra. New Zealand were all out for 296. India led by 49. Shreyas Iyer was player of the match for his 105 and a second-innings 65, not Axar.

The draw

India made 234 for 7 declared in the second innings. Axar was 28 not out off 67 when they declared. New Zealand were set 284. They finished 165 for 9. Axar's second spell was 21 overs, 12 maidens, 23 runs, and 1 wicket: Henry Nicholls, lbw for 1. Economy 1.09.

The ninth wicket fell at 155. Rachin Ravindra, 18 not out off 91, and Ajaz Patel, 2 not out off 23, saw out the last pair. Bad light ended the match with that wicket still standing. India 345 and 234 for 7 declared, New Zealand 296 and 165 for 9. The first Test was a draw, and the series was 0-0.

Scorecard

Scorecard: India vs New Zealand, 1st Test, Green Park, Kanpur, 25-29 November 2021. ESPNcricinfo match 1278674. The same fixture is the opening Test of New Zealand's 2021-22 tour of India in the BCCI record. Axar Patel's first-innings figures on that card are 34-6-62-5.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were Axar Patel's figures in Kanpur in 2021? In New Zealand's first innings he bowled 34 overs, with 6 maidens, for 62 runs and 5 wickets. The economy was 1.82.

Who did Axar Patel dismiss for his five-for? Ross Taylor, caught by KS Bharat for 11; Henry Nicholls, lbw for 2; Tom Latham, stumped by Bharat for 95; Tom Blundell, bowled for 13; Tim Southee, bowled for 5 off 13 balls.

Was this Axar Patel's fifth five-wicket haul? Yes, and it came in his fourth Test. He is joint second for five-wicket hauls in a first four Tests. Charlie Turner took six in his first four.

Who won the Kanpur Test? Neither side. India made 345 and 234 for 7 declared. New Zealand made 296 and 165 for 9. Bad light ended a draw, with Ravindra and Ajaz Patel still at the crease.

Who was player of the match? Shreyas Iyer, for 105 on debut and 65 in the second innings. Axar's 5 for 62 was the best bowling return of the first innings.