The 34-year-old Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal produced his best bowling figures in a first-class match during his team Northamptonshire’s 133-run win against Derbyshire in the English County Championship Division Two 2024. 

Yuzvendra Chahal already created a headline in India with his fifer during Derbyshire’s first innings. Later, Chahal bagged another four wickets in the fourth innings of the match on rain-curtailed Wednesday.

Watch: Chahal shines with 5-wicket haul for Northamptonshire in County Championship

Yuzvendra Chahal recorded 4/54 during the fourth innings

With the bat, Chahal was unbeaten for no score in both innings of the match. In the fourth innings of the match, Chahal shone with the bowling figures of 18-3-54-4. He and his off-spin bowling partner Rob Keogh (15-1-44-5) destroyed the batting line-up in the final innings of the match. 

While the last-placed team in the points table Derbyshire (107 points in 12 matches) had the fourth innings target of 266 runs, they were bundled out for only 132 runs. Only the unbeaten batter Wayne Madsen (48) reached the 20-run mark in that innings. 

Seventh-placed Northamptonshire (114 points in 12 matches), who are just above the last-placed Derbyshire in the points table, recorded their first win of this County Championship season with this 133-run win.  

Yuzvendra Chahal closely missed out his 1st first-class 10-wicket haul

After his fifer in Derbyshire’s first innings of the match, where he ended with the bowling figures of 16.3-2-45-5, the leg-spinner Chahal ended the fourth innings with 18-3-54-4. He ended the game with the bowling figures of 34.3-5-99-9. It was his best bowling figures in a first-class match. His previous best bowling figures in a first-class match was 8/112. 

SEE ALSO: Yuzvendra Chahal starts English domestic season with a fifer 

Chahal has taken 106 wickets in his 38 first-class matches. During Derbyshire’s first innings, Chahal completed his 100 first-class wickets with his third wicket of that innings. 

Chahal hasn’t played a match for the Indian national cricket team this year. Although the leg-spinner was selected for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and United States, he wasn’t selected in any playing XIs.  

After his 72 ODIs and 80 T20Is, Chahal has taken 121 and 96 wickets, respectively. The leading IPL wicket-taker is also holding the record for most T20I wickets for India.  

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal continued to impress in the United Kingdom with a standout performance for Northamptonshire. In the ongoing County Championship season, Chahal claimed his first five-wicket haul, playing a pivotal role in his team’s match against Derbyshire at the County Ground in Northampton. This achievement marks Chahal’s third five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, underscoring his growing prowess with the red ball in England.

Chahal’s match-winning performance

Yuzvendra Chahal finished with remarkable figures of 5 for 45, delivering a crucial spell of bowling that helped Northamptonshire secure a 54-run lead in the first innings. Chahal received significant support from off-spinner Rob Keogh, as the duo dismantled Derbyshire’s batting lineup. At one point, Derbyshire seemed in control at 150 for 4 on Day 2, but they collapsed dramatically, losing their last six wickets for just 15 runs. Chahal’s spell was instrumental in this turnaround, as he claimed the vital wicket of Wayne Madsen, who was well set at 47, by spinning the ball sharply to hit the top of the off-stump twice.

61 | Lunch. 🍽️

Seven wickets in the session and some excellent spells from Chahal and Keogh. 🌀

We're just going to watch this on repeat during the interval. 🔁

Derbyshire 165/8. pic.twitter.com/G4Y1VUHVjL

— Northamptonshire CCC (@NorthantsCCC) September 10, 2024

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A valuable addition to Northamptonshire

Chahal’s performance has been a major boost for Northamptonshire during the English summer. His five-wicket haul in the County Championship follows a similar feat in the One-Day Cup match he played against his former club, Kent, on August 14. Despite a modest start with just one wicket in his first two County Championship Division Two matches, Chahal is now poised to build on this impressive performance. He has signed on to play a total of five first-class matches this season for Northamptonshire, and his recent success indicates a promising continuation of his impactful stint in English cricket.

Indian batsman Karun Nair is set to make a comeback to the Northamptonshire county team in April this year after going unsold in the Indian Premier League 2024 auction. Despite Northamptonshire’s unsuccessful bid to avoid relegation from Division 2 last season, Nair’s three matches with innings of 78, 150, and 21 earned him praise from head coach John Sadler, who considers him a valuable asset to the team.

Expressing delight in securing Nair’s return, Sadler commended the batsman’s calmness, temperament, and hunger for runs during the previous season. Nair’s availability for the County Championships was uncertain in December, awaiting a potential IPL auction selection. However, with no IPL takers, he is committed to playing the first seven matches for Northamptonshire in the upcoming season.

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Thrilled about his return, Karun Nair emphasized his excitement to contribute to the team’s success, aiming to secure victories and promote Northamptonshire. Acknowledging the coach and captain for the opportunity, Nair expressed his eagerness to build on his form from the previous season and make a significant impact with the bat.

Notably, Nair will be replaced by Indian teammate Prithvi Shaw in the latter part of the English summer. Shaw, who had a successful stint with Northants last year, missed the season due to an ACL injury.

Karun Nair, having played six Test matches for India, boasts a total of 374 runs at an average of 62.33, with his highest Test career score of 303 achieved in a single match. Once considered a permanent member of the Indian Test team, Nair’s exclusion resulted from a decline in form. His last Test match was against Australia in 2017, and despite strong competition, he has been unable to regain a spot in the Indian team and remains out of consideration by selectors.