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Jadeja moved up to the fifth spot in the list of highest wicket-takers for India in Tests, leapfrogging former pace bowling teammates Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma
Ravindra Jadeja picked his 14th 5-wicket haul in Test cricket
Ravindra Jadeja ran through the New Zealand batting order on Friday, picking up his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. The southpaw cleaned up Matt Henry for a first-ball duck to complete a five-wicket haul in the ongoing third Test at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
After struggling against the Kiwis in the last two Tests, Jadeja made a startling return in Mumbai. He opened his account by dismissing Will Young after lunch on the opening day and then cleaned up wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips before heading into the tea break. A three-wicket haul in the second session let Jadeja surpass veteran India pacer Ishant Sharma, who has 311 wickets in 105 Tests.
Jadeja, who is currently the third-most prolific Indian spinner, had picked up 6 wickets in the last two Tests; 3 each in Bengaluru and Pune. He broke a stubborn 87-run fourth wicket stand between Will Young (71) and Daryl Mitchell (53 not out), while also accounting for Tom Blundell (0) and Glenn Phillips (17) to help India keep the visitors in check.
Jadeja’s effort was a reward for toil that the home team bowlers put in for a large part of the second session, with Young and Mitchell forging a sturdy stand.
At tea, the burly Mitchell was batting on 53 off 96 balls with three fours having thoroughly struggled in the heat and humidity to score his first fifty of the tour. He was accompanied by Ish Sodhi (1 not out).
If India had the momentum swinging their way with spinners Washington Sundar (2/50) and Jadeja coming to the fore towards the end of the morning session, it appeared lost due to the break as New Zealand resumed formidably.
With his three-wicket burst, Jadeja moved up to the fifth spot in the list of highest wicket-takers for India in Tests, leapfrogging former pace bowling teammates Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, with 312 wickets.
(With Agency Inputs)
