5 instances of a bowler ending up on the losing side after claiming 10 wickets in a Test

New Zealand’s left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel created history during the Mumbai Test against India, claiming all 10 wickets in the first innings. With the performance, he became only the third bowler to dismiss 10 batters in an innings in a Test match.

Ajaz carried on his impressive form in the second innings as well, picking up four of the seven Indian wickets to fall. With his fantastic effort in the Mumbai Test, Ajaz broke the record for the best bowling performance in a Test against India. The 33-year-old ended with figures of 14 for 225, bettering England legend Ian Botham’s 13 for 106 at the same venue in 1980.

Despite Ajaz’s heroics, New Zealand went on to lose the Mumbai Test by 372 runs as the Kiwis were bowled out for 62 in the first innings and 167 in their second.

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Not just Ajaz: Bowlers whose memorable Test spells went in vain

Before Ajaz, a few other bowlers also ended up on the losing side despite claiming 10 or more wickets in a Test match. We take a look at five such instances.

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#1 Jason Krejza (8/215 & 4/143) vs India - Nagpur Test 2008

Jason Krejza appeals for a wicket during the 2008 Nagpur Test. Pic: Getty Images

Former Australian off-spinner Jason Krejza claimed 12 wickets during a Test against India at Nagpur in 2008. Incredibly, the performance came in his debut Test. India batted first after winning the toss and posted 441.

Krejza’s performance was similar to Ajaz’s in the Mumbai Test. He did not run through the line-up but picked up wickets through patience and perseverance, sending down 43.5 overs in the first innings and 31 in the second.

The offie clean bowled Virender Sehwag (56) and MS Dhoni (56) in the first innings and knocked over VVS Laxman (4) with a ripper in the second. It was Krejza who dismissed Sourav Ganguly for the last time in a Test match, sending him back caught and bowled for a first-ball duck.

Australia were set 382 to win the Test, but went down by 172 runs. Despite ending up on the losing side, Krejza walked away with the Player of the Match award in his debut Test appearance.

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#2 Javagal Srinath (5/46 & 8/86) vs Pakistan - Kolkata Test 1999

Javagal Srinath claimed 13 wickets against Pakistan in the 1999 Kolkata Test.

Team India’s pace workhorse of the '90s, Javagal Srinath was in imperious form in the opening match of the Asian Test Championship in 1999. India reduced Pakistan to 26 for 6 after the visitors batted first. Srinath sent back Shahid Afridi, Ijaz Ahmed, Mohammad Yousuf and Azhar Mahmood cheaply to put India on top. A hard fought 70 from Moin Khan lifted Pakistan to 185.

Shoaib Akhtar then famously cleaned up Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar off consecutive deliveries and finished with four wickets as Pakistan restricted India to 223. Srinath bowled his heart out in the second innings and finished with eight wickets in 27 overs. However, a superlative 188* kept Pakistan ahead as they posted 316.

India were set 279 for victory, but despite an opening stand of 108 between VVS Laxman (67) and Sadagoppan Ramesh (40) crumbled to 232 all out. The match featured the controversial run-out of Tendulkar (9), who collided with Akhtar while attempting to complete a run. After a solid start, India ended up losing nine wickets for 98 runs.

#3 Kapil Dev (1/52 & 9/83) vs West Indies - Ahmedabad Test 1983

Former India pacer Kapil Dev claimed 9/83 against West Indies in 1983

Even a 10-wicket match haul from the legendary Kapil Dev could not stop a rampant West Indies from coasting to victory against India in the Ahmedabad Test of 1983. India asked the Windies to bat first after winning the toss. Although Kapil managed only one wicket in the first innings, Maninder Singh (4/85) and Roger Binny (3/18) restricted West Indies to 281.

India, however, crumbled to 241 despite Sunil Gavaskar’s brisk 90 as Wayne Daniel claimed five wickets. West Indies seemed on top at the halfway stage of the Test. However, Kapil came up with an incredible bowling performance to pick up 9 for 83 in 30.3 overs and restrict the visitors to 201. The skipper bowled half the overs in the innings as the Windies were all out in 60.3 overs.

Kapil cleaned up Gordon Greenidge for 3 and kept hurting the West Indies at regular intervals after that. Thanks to their captain’s heroics, India needed 242 to clinch the Test. However, Michael Holding (4/30) and Winston Davis (3/21) helped the Windies bundle out the hosts for 103.

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#4 Mitchell Johnson (8/61 & 3/98) - Perth Test 2008

Former Australia left-arm seamer Mitchell Johnson. Pic: Getty Images

Had South Africa not chased down 414 in this match, the second highest in Test history, the Perth encounter might well have been remembered for Mitchell Johnson’s heroics. The fiery former Australian left-arm seamer was in his element against a strong Proteas batting line-up.

After the Aussies posted a competitive 375 batting first, Johnson rocked the South Africans with figures of 8 for 61 in 27 overs. He dismissed Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers, all of whom were well-set and were looking good for big scores. Johnson then ran through the tail to restrict South Africa to 281.

Brad Haddin starred with 94 in Australia’s second innings as the hosts put up 319 and set South Africa what seemed like an improbable 414 for victory. The Proteas romped home by six wickets, courtesy hundreds from Smith and De Villiers. Johnson claimed three of the four wickets to fall but had to send down more than 34 overs as South Africa took complete control of proceedings.

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#5 Keshav Maharaj (9/129 & 3/154) - Colombo Test 2018

Keshav Maharaj claimed 12 scalps in the 2018 Colombo Test. Pic: Getty Images

Sri Lankan batters are renowned for their skills against slow bowling. In that context, South African left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj’s 12-wicket match haul in Colombo was quite sensational. The Lankans batted first after winning the toss and Maharaj’s 9 for 129 from 41.1 overs kept the hosts to under 350.

After Sri Lankan openers Danushka Gunathilaka (57) and Dimuth Karunaratne (53) added 116 for the opening wicket, Maharaj brought South Africa back into the Test by dismissing both in quick succession.

There were decent names in the Lankan middle order - Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews - who also fell to Maharaj’s guile. The left-arm spinner’s brilliance reduced Sri Lanka to 264 for 9 before Akila Dananjaya (43*) and Rangana Herath (35) lifted the hosts to 338.

Dananjaya (5/52) and Dilruwan Perera (4/40) then dismantled South Africa for 124 in 34.5 overs. Maharaj wasn’t as effective in the second innings, bowling 40 overs for three wickets while conceding 154 runs. Set to chase 490, South Africa were all out for 290 despite Theunis de Bruyn’s fighting 101.