Yuzvendra Chahal takes fifer on debut for Northamptonshire in One-Day Cup

Just an hour after his signing was officially announced, Yuzvendra Chahal took five wickets for Northamptonshire in their last match of the One-Day Cup. He is due to play five games in the County Championship Division Two next, the club announced on Wednesday.

Chahal took 5 for 14 during an unbroken 10-over spell, as Kent Spitfires were dismissed for just 82 runs in 35.1 overs by Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Canterbury.

Northants took just 14 overs to scale the target, James Sales scoring 32 not out and George Bartlett unbeaten on 31 as the visitors got home with 216 balls to spare.

After winning the toss and deciding to bat, Kent regretted that decision. They were reduced to 15/4 and Chahal piled on by dismissing Ekansh Singh for 10.

Chahal had Jaydn Denly and Beyers Swanepoel both leg before in the same over, for 22 and 0 respectively.

He then had Grant Stewart caught by Prithvi Shaw for 1, Kent were 52/8 and staring at the possibility of registering their lowest-ever List A total, which was 60 vs Somerset in 1979.

While that was avoided, Nathan Gilchrist hit Chahal high into the air and was caught at long-off by Raphael Weatherall for the spinner to complete his five-wicket haul.

Justin Broad took three wickets for Northamptonshire as Kent’s top scorer, Jaydn Denly, made just 22.

Earlier in the day, the club had said in a statement: “Northamptonshire County Cricket Club are delighted that Indian international Yuzvendra Chahal will join the club for the final One-Day Cup match at Kent and the remaining five County Championship fixtures.”

“Also previously an India youth international in the sport of chess, Chahal spent time at Kent in the 2023 season, taking nine wickets in two of their three Division One matches of the campaign,” it added.

“Yuzvendra is another high-profile overseas player who brings with him a wealth of experience and some incredible skills. His record speaks for itself and his wicket-taking ability will add strength to our attack,” said Northamptonshire head coach John Sadler.

Northamptonshire are currently seventh in the eight-team County Division Two with seven draws and two defeats in nine matches.

In the One-Day Cup, the club picked up only their second win of the season on wednesday from eight matches which kept them in eighth position in Group A. They’re not in reckoning to qualify for the next stage.

Chahal has played 72 ODIs and 80 T20Is for India with 217 wickets across both formats.