Axar Patel reaches 3,000 runs and 300 wickets in T20 cricket
Axar Patel became the first Indian to reach 3,000 T20 runs and 300 wickets. India lost the fourth T20I by 87 runs after New Zealand posted 259 for seven.
Axar Patel became the first Indian cricketer to complete 3,000 runs and 300 wickets in men's T20 cricket. He dismissed Finn Allen to reach the 300-wicket landmark. Axar has picked up 300 wickets across 345 T20 matches and has nine T20 half-centuries to his name.
India suffered an 87-run defeat in the fourth T20I against New Zealand at Eden Park. New Zealand scored 259 for seven, led by Glenn Phillips' 107 off 49 balls with 10 sixes and Michael Bracewell's 65 off 25 balls. Phillips and Bracewell added 115 runs off 41 balls for the fourth wicket.
Axar finished with bowling figures of 3-0-43-1 and an economy rate of 14.33. He scored seven runs off nine balls before being dismissed caught and bowled by Mitchell Santner. Abhishek Sharma scored 27, Naman Dhir made 28 and Tilak Varma scored 35 in India's chase of 260.
CricHubb Take
Axar's dual contribution as an all-rounder makes him a rare asset in India's white-ball setup, yet his economy rate above 14 in this match shows even proven performers can struggle when the opposition attacks spin aggressively.