IND vs BAN: Yuzvendra Chahal gives a tight slap to Ajit Agarkar

Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal stole the limelight with his fascinating spell of five-wicket haul as Northamptonshire County Cricket Club dominated Derbyshire County Cricket Club in the ongoing County Championship 2024 match at the County Ground in Northampton.

It was a spinner's dream pitch, with plenty of turn and bounce, and Yuzvendra Chahal, along with off-spinner Rob Keogh, exploited it to the fullest for Northamptonshire. The combined efforts of the duo proved to be too much for the Derbyshire batters.

Yuzvendra Chahal shines with five-wicket haul for Northamptonshire in County Championship 2024

Batting first, Northamptonshire started strongly with 219 on the board against Derbyshire, thanks to a fighting 90 from Saif Zib and a 45-run knock from Justin Broad in Northampton.

Later, Yuzvendra Chahal finished with a memorable spell of 5/45 in 16.3 overs, as the Derbyshire team was dismissed for 165 in 61.3 overs in reply to Northamptonshire’s first innings total of 219 runs in the first-class game. During his spell, Chahal completed 100 wickets in first-class cricket.

Yuzvendra Chahal removed Aneurin Donald (21) and Wayne Madsen (47). The most enthralling part of his spell was removing Alex Thomson (2) and Jack Morley (0) off successive balls in a double-wicket maiden. Before this double attack, the Indian spinner had dismissed Zak Chappell for a duck.

Yuzvendra Chahal's day was rounded off with the wicket of Morley for a duck to bring to an end Derbyshire's first innings. His strong bowling show came after the legspinner was overlooked for India's upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, starting on September 19 in Chennai.

Watch here Chahal's magic in English county cricket:

He does this every time.

More magic from Yuzvendra Chahal, who takes 5-45 for Northamptonshire against Derbyshire.

Just watch the deliveries for his second and fifth wickets... pic.twitter.com/XCvYn3mGmN

— Vitality County Championship (@CountyChamp) September 10, 2024

Chahal was part of India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad, but he didn't get a single game as the team management went with Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav throughout their victorious campaign in the USA and West Indies. His last appearance for India was in a T20I against the West Indies in 2023.

The star-leg spinner has risen to form in the County Championship 2024, and it is a huge statement from him, showing his class and resolve after the recent setbacks in his international career. If he maintains his form, Chahal can be picked for the T20I series against Bangladesh.

Prithvi Shaw's struggles continue in County Cricket

On the other hand, Indian opener Prithvi Shaw had a forgettable outing for Northamptonshire in the ongoing County Championship game, scoring 4 and 2 runs in both innings against Derbyshire at the County Ground in Northampton.

Speaking about Northamptonshire’s second innings, Angus Miller (42 runs off 59 balls), James Sales (40 runs off 89 balls), and Keogh (46* off 60 balls) helped the English county side to recover from the early setbacks against Derbyshire side on Day 2.

Lewis McManus (10*) and Keogh will resume the play on Day 3, with Northamptonshire taking a daunting lead of 232 runs against Derbyshire in the ongoing County Championship match.

For Derbyshire, Harry Moore scalped two wickets, while Jack Morley, Thomson, and Andersson each snared one wicket against Northamptonshire in their second innings in Northampton.