Arshdeep’s 4/70 makes him third Indian pacer with NZ four-fer

Arshdeep Singh took 4/70 in 10 overs at Eden Park, Auckland, and became the third Indian pacer, after Javagal Srinath and Mohammed Shami, to take a four-wicket haul in New Zealand. It came in the first ODI of India’s tour of New Zealand.

His wickets helped bowl New Zealand out for 185 in 40.2 overs. India then won by five wickets under DLS on Wednesday, 4 November, and lead the five-match ODI series 1-0.

The spell

Outlook India calls Arshdeep a left-arm pacer and says 4/70 is the fourth-best return by an Indian fast bowler in New Zealand. The Tribune notes that one more wicket would have put him level with Anil Kumble’s 5/33 at Wellington in 1994, the only five-wicket haul by an Indian in the country.

Arshdeep said there was a lot of purchase on the surface and that bowling in New Zealand was a pleasure. He added that the fifth wicket would have been his favourite.

He had good support. Gurnoor Brar took 3/44 and Anshul Kamboj 2/22 from 10 overs, including two maidens. Auqib Nabi went wicketless for 33 in six overs, and Axar Patel conceded 12 in five.

Arshdeep’s year in ODIs

Arshdeep has taken 12 wickets in five ODIs this year, at an average of 23.08 and an economy rate of 6.08, with best figures of 6/70.

State of the series

Rain reduced the chase. India were set a revised 143 in 32 overs and finished on 143/5 in 22.4 overs, with Virat Kohli unbeaten on 59 and Shubman Gill unbeaten on 36.

Four matches remain. The second ODI is in Wellington on Saturday, 7 November, starting at 7:30 AM IST.