India beat New Zealand by 372 runs, win series
- 06 Dec 2021
Gulf Today Report
India hammered New Zealand by 372 runs to win the second Test on Monday, after the Black Caps' Mumbai-born spinner Ajaz Patel took the plaudits with 10 wickets in the first innings.
Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed an eight-wicket match tally as the hosts won the two-game series 1-0.
Top-ranked New Zealand, which started on day four in 140 for 5 in search of an unlikely 540, was out for 167 before lunch in Mumbai.
Ajaz, a left-wing spinner whose name went up on Wankhede's honour on Saturday after his perfect 10, stood out with match data of 14-225, a bowler's best ever against India.
But New Zealand, who expected a draw in the opener, were beaten by their batting. They collapsed to 62 all out in their first innings and were never in the chase against India's spin force.
Ashwin, who struck three times in the final session on day three, sent back overnight batsman Henry Nicholls for 44 as the last wicket to register his 300th scalp on home soil.
Jayant Yadav bowled Rachin Ravindra by 18, then scored twice in a row and had career-best numbers of 4-49.
Daryl Mitchell, who scored 60, was the only bit of resistance for tourists in his fourth stand of 73 with Nicholls on Sunday.
Indian opener Mayank Agarwal scored 150 in India's first innings in total of 325, then scored with 62, the hosts calling for 276-7 on day three.
Ajaz remained the sole performer of New Zealand, ranked No.1 in the world, as the world test champion after beating India in the title showdown in June.
His 14 wickets against India surpassed England's fast pitcher Ian Botham's 13-106 in Mumbai in 1980.
Ajaz's 10-119 in the opening innings brought him to elite company alongside two other bowlers including the Briton Jim Laker (1956 against Australia) and the Indian Anil Kumble (against Pakistan in 1999). But his effort was part of a losing fight.
Ajaz, 33, who moved to Auckland from Mumbai with his parents in 1996, has claimed 43 wickets for New Zealand in 11 games since his debut in 2018.
