Northamptonshire had announced Yuzvendra Chahal's arrival less than an hour ahead of their final game of the One-Day Cup, saying he would be available for the match as well as the remainder of the red-ball season. Chahal slotted straight into the lineup against Kent, for whom he had played three County Championship matches last year.
Kent chose to bat first, but were on the back foot early when Justin Broad dismissed Marcus O'Riordan in the first over before Luke Procter accounted for Joey Evison and Harry Finch. Broad then got rid of Jack Leaning to leave Kent reeling at 15-4 in 5.3 overs.
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Five maidens, five wickets: Chahal's mesmerising spell
Chahal came into the attack in the 13th over of the innings, just as Jaydn Denly - nephew of former England batter Joe - and Ekansh Singh had set about rebuilding for Kent. His first two overs cost 10 runs, but after he struck with the first ball of his third over, getting one to spin past Singh's bat before wicketkeeper Lewis McManus completed a sharp stumping, he was unplayable.
That over ended up being a wicket maiden, the first of three on the trot for the leggie. In his fourth over, he got rid of Denly as the left-hander attempted a sweep shot, but missed and found himself trapped lbw. Two balls later, new batter Beyers Swanepoel went on the back foot to Chahal, only to suffer the same fate as Denly.
Yuzvendra Chahal: 10-5-14-5
— Metro Bank One Day Cup (@onedaycup) August 14, 2024
A magnificent Northamptonshire debut from the Indian leg-spinner. In his last eight overs his figures were 8-5-4-5!
Watch every ball of his unplayable debut spell here. pic.twitter.com/kP6GLh02Wp
Midway through his fifth over, Chahal took his fourth wicket. Grant Stewart attempted a heave into the leg side, but only got a faint nick as the ball cannoned off the keeper's gloves, into Prithvi Shaw's hands at first slip. He completed his five-wicket haul in his ninth over as a short delivery was pulled by Nathan Gilchrist, straight to Raphael Weatherall.
Chahal finished with 10-5-14-5, Northamptonshire's best figures against Kent, leaving them at 67-9 by the time he was done. His final eight overs had cost just four runs, and contained five wickets and five maidens. Broad took the final wicket in the 36th over to bowl Kent out for 82, their lowest List A total against Northamptonshire.
Neither Northants or Kent are in with a chance of making the One-Day Cup playoffs.
Watch Yuzvendra Chahal's five-wicket haul below:
Yuzvendra Chahal: 10-5-14-5
— Metro Bank One Day Cup (@onedaycup) August 14, 2024
A magnificent Northamptonshire debut from the Indian leg-spinner. In his last eight overs his figures were 8-5-4-5!
Watch every ball of his unplayable debut spell here. pic.twitter.com/kP6GLh02Wp
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