The first country to be granted Test status from the Asian subcontinent was India in the year 1932. Following the independence of Pakistan in 1947, they got to play as a separate nation from the year 1952. Over the years Pakistan and India have been considered the superior of the Asian sides and has been major contenders in World cricket. They have produced some exceptional all-rounders who have left a major impact on the game.
Moving on from India and Pakistan one more Asian team who have made a significant impact in international cricket is Sri Lanka. Awarded Test status in the year 1982, Sri Lanka, from underdogs, became serious contenders in World cricket from the 90s.
Here we bring you 5 all rounders from Asia who has taken 10 wickets and scored a half-century in the same Test match:
#5 Dilruwan Perera (10/99 and 64 vs Australia at Galle 2016)
Sri Lanka came into the match 1-0 up in the 3 match series and Australia were looking to make a comeback in the series and set their dismal subcontinental record straight.
Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and opted to bat. In spin friendly conditions Mitchell Starc bowled his heart out and picked up 5 wickets. Kusal Mendis the centurion from the previous match again played a terrific innings scoring 86. Mathews chipped in with a half-century as Sri Lanka posted a decent 281 in their 1st innings.
It was a horrendous batting performance by the Aussies as they were unable to tackle the Sri Lankan spinners. Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera bowled in perfect areas and got enough assistance from the pitch to unsettle the Australian batsmen. Herath and Perera both picked up 4 wickets each as Australia were dismissed for a paltry 106.
Sri Lanka started their 2nd innings 175 runs ahead and though it was still the 2nd day of the Test match, the Sri Lankans took the positive approach and started scoring quick runs in their 2nd essay. Dilruwan Perera top-scored for the Sri Lankans with a stroke-filled 64 hitting 7 fours and 2 sixes in the process. When the Sri Lankans were bowled out for 237, the Aussies were left to chase an unlikely victory target of 412.
They lost 3 quick wickets in the last 6 overs of the 2nd day and were tottering at 10/3. When the 2nd day began, the writing was on the wall and it was a foregone conclusion after Sri Lanka got the wicket of Steven Smith. Dilruwan Perera was outstanding and kept bowling in the right areas. The Australians were literally bamboozled by the talented spinner as they were bundled out for 183. It was the 8th consecutive defeat for Australia in the subcontinent and the victory for Sri Lanka ensured they took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3 match series.
#4 Shakib-al-Hasan (10/124 and 137 vs Zimbabwe at Khulna 2014-15)
Zimbabwe was making re-entry to Test cricket and faced Bangladesh in the 2nd Test of the 3 match series. The hosts won the toss and chose to bat. Tamim Iqbal played a very crucial knock, scoring 109 and was ably supported by Mahmudullah Riad who chipped in with 56. The complexion of the match changed when Shakib came to the crease.
The Bangla Tigers were scoring very slowly but Shakib changed the momentum of the game and started scoring very quickly. He smashed 18 fours and 2 sixes in his scintillating innings and when he was eventually dismissed for 137 Bangladesh were in a strong position. They ended their 1st innings on 433.
It was an outstanding century from Hamilton Masakadza that led a Zimbabwe recovery after early jolts. Masakadza looked solid at the crease and hit 17 fours and 2 sixes during his innings of 158. Another century by Regis Chakabva lower down the order propelled Zimbabwe to a competitive 368. Just like his batting Shakib was immaculate with his bowling too. He used his variations pretty well and got the rewards he wanted. He finished with figures of 5/80.
It was half centuries from Mominul Haque and Mahmudullah that stretched the Bangladesh total to 248 in their 2nd innings before they declared their innings setting Zimbabwe a victory target of 314.
Shakib’s variations again undid the Zimbabwe top order as they found no answer to his nagging line and length. Taijul Islam supported him well as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 151, handing Bangladesh victory by 162 runs. Shakib finished with 5/44.
#3 Abdul Qadir (10/186 and 61 vs England at Karachi 1987-88)
Mike Gatting won the toss and elected to bat. It was a day that belonged to the greatest leg spinner of that generation and a person who revolutionised leg spin bowling. The veteran spinner Abdul Qadir bamboozled the English batting line-up with his guile and deceptive bowling as he finished with 5/88. England was eventually skittled out for 294 in their 1st innings.
The Pakistanis got off to a good start with Rameez Raja and Saleem Malik scoring half centuries. Aamer Malik scored a brilliant 98 and Abdul Qadir scored a fluent 61. By the time Pakistan were bowled out they got a crucial lead of 59.
Again the English batsmen failed to find a way to handle Qadir but played out the stipulated overs to ensure that the match ended in a draw. Abdul Qadir finished with figures of 5/98.
#2 Imran Khan (11/180 and 117 vs India at Faisalabad 1982-83)
It was the 3rd Test of the 6 match series and Pakistan was leading the series 1-0. Pakistan captain Imran Khan won the toss and put the visitors in. It was an outstanding bowling display by Imran Khan and Mudassar Nazar that left the Indians at 122-5. A good fightback by the Indian lower order as half centuries from Syed Kirmani and Sandeep Patil ensured the Indians reached a competitive 372 in their first innings.
Imran Khan was the ‘wrecker in chief’ for Pakistan, picking up 6/98 and was ably supported by Mudassar Nazar who chipped in with 2 wickets.
Four Pakistani batsmen scored beyond hundred as Pakistani amassed a mammoth 652 in their 1st innings. Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas, Salim Malik and Imran Khan all scored centuries as the Pakistanis toyed with the Indian bowling.
It was again terrific bowling by the Pakistani captain in the 2nd innings that shook the Indian middle order and apart from Sunil Gavaskar and Mohinder Amarnath, no one could cross 20. It was high-quality bowling by Imran Khan and he finished with 5/82. The Pakistanis needed only 10 runs to win in their 2nd innings and they did that without losing a wicket. The victory ensured Pakistan took a 2-0 lead in the 6 match series.
#1 Kapil Dev (11/146 and 84 vs Pakistan at Chennai, 1979-80)
It was the 5th match of the 6 match series and India were leading 1-0. Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat.
A half-century from Majid Khan and useful contributions from Sadiq Mohammad and Javed Miandad ensured Pakistan reach a competitive 272 in their first innings. Kapil Dev was phenomenal with the ball and picked up 4 wickets dismissing Mudassar Nazar, Sadiq Mohammad, Zaheer Abbas and Javed Miandad. The brilliant spell from Dev broke the backbone of Pakistan.
It was a brilliant century by Sunil Gavaskar that propelled the hosts to a score of 430. His score of 166 along with 84 from Kapil Dev ensured India took a sizeable lead of 158 in their 1st innings. It was again a magical spell from Kapil Dev in the 2nd innings which rattled the Pakistanis. They were not able to cope up with immaculate line and length and prodigious swing. Kapil finished with 7 wickets and courtesy his brilliance Pakistan was bundled out for 233.
India had to score a mere 78 runs in the 2nd innings to win the series and they did that with relative ease. Chetan Chauhan and Sunil Gavaskar ensured India coasted to a victory without losing a single wicket. The victory also enabled India to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
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