Cricket

Axar Patel scores maiden test fifty

By Vaibhaw Tiwari

The Indian tailenders have been often accused of giving away their wickets too cheaply in the past. Although there has been a change in this phenomenon in recent years, as the bowlers have started putting up a price tag on their wickets, this was again evident in the inning that Axar Patel played on Saturday.

Coming in to bat in the first session of the second day, Axar Patel was faced by a hat-trick ball from Ajaz Patel, who had removed Wriddhiman Saha and Ashwin in consecutive deliveries. Axar, was not intimidated by this and simply dabbed the ball innocuously to negotiate the over.

This was the proof of intent from the batter, and he carried it forward from there onwards. He built a steady partnership with Mayank Yadav in the morning session to make sure that they not only survived the session but scored some crucial runs too. He came in to bat when India was suffering at 224 for six and helped his side to 285 for six at the end of the session. Axar scored 32 runs in the 61 runs partnership.

At the start of the second session, Mayank got out to Ajaz Patel, but Axar was unperturbed by it and continued to play his flamboyant inning. In the very next over of Somerville, Axar scored 13 runs to inch closer to his maiden fifty and achieved the milestone a couple of overs later. In his inning of 50 of 113 balls, Axar scored 5 fours and 1 six.

Tags: Ajaz Patel Axar Patel India vs New Zealand Mayank Agawal

Vaibhaw Tiwari

Vaibhaw Tiwari is a postgraduate in English. A media enthusiast who has a stronghold on communication and content writing. Vaibhaw is currently working as a subeditor at Daily India News and can be reached at [email protected]