Indian off-spinner Washington Sundar achieved his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket during the second Test against New Zealand. Returning to the format after a hiatus of over three years, Sundar delivered a spectacular performance, ending the innings with an impressive 7 wickets for 59 runs.
The Key Wicket of Tim Southee
The defining moment of Sundar’s achievement came on the very first ball of the 76th over. Facing Tim Southee, Sundar bowled a brilliant arm ball from around the wicket. As Southee attempted to defend, the ball sneaked past his outside edge and crashed into the off stump. The disbelief on Southee’s face was evident as he stood frozen while Sundar celebrated his milestone.
Interestingly, Southee had survived a close call just an over earlier when he was dropped by Sundar. Determined to rectify that, Sundar took it upon himself to claim Southee’s wicket. However, As he completed this remarkable feat, Virat Kohli rushed to hug Sundar in celebration, highlighting the camaraderie and support within the Indian team.
Washington Sundar Dismantles the New Zealand Batting Order
Before dismissing Southee, Sundar had already made his mark by clean-bowling New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra. Bowling round the wicket, Sundar delivered a ball that drifted in and turned sharply, catching Ravindra off guard as it clipped the off stump. Ravindra looked back in disbelief, while Sundar jubilantly celebrated his success.
Sundar’s exceptional bowling helped India bundle out New Zealand for just 259 runs. At one point during the innings, it seemed like New Zealand were heading for a substantial score with Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra at the crease. However, Sundar and fellow spinner Ravichandran Ashwin quickly dismantled their batting lineup. Ashwin took the remaining three wickets to complete the innings.
Despite their collapse, New Zealand had notable contributions from their batsmen. Devon Conway top-scored with 76 runs, while Rachin Ravindra added 65 runs to the total. Their efforts provided some resistance but ultimately fell short against India’s bowling attack.
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