Published: Feb 23, 2024, 11:05 AM (IST)
Edited: Feb 23, 2024, 11:05 AM (IST)
On the first day of the ongoing fourth test between India and England in Ranchi on Friday, Akash Deep had a bittersweet start to his Test career. During the fourth over, the 27-year-old produced a beautiful delivery that nipped back from length around off in the fifth delivery. As the ball sped past Zak Crawley’s inside edge and struck the off stumps, Akash leaped with excitement, believing he had just taken his first Test wicket.
The celebrations had to end because it was a front foot no-ball, so the delight was short-lived when the siren sounded.
In the tenth over, Akash ultimately claimed his first wicket, and this time, it was a legitimate delivery. Akash hit a decent length delivery in the second ball of the over, straight to the left-handed Ben Duckett, who edged it for an easy catch to Dhruv Jurel. Once more, Duckett was dismissed for 11 off 21 balls, and Akash rejoiced.
In the same over, he removed Ollie Pope with another strike. In the fourth delivery, Pope was hit in front of off by Akash’s ball that tucked back in from length, beating him on the inside edge. Upon review, India saw that Pope was out for a two-ball duck and that the ball was hitting the top of middle stump.
Then, in the 12th over’s fifth delivery, he dismissed Crawley. Crawley was given a nip-backer, but he mishandled it and it struck the top of off stump, bringing Akash immense joy! Crawley was out of the game after 42 balls.
